Senator Risa Hontiveros has renewed her call for a sweeping review of the country’s waste management system following a landfill fire in Navotas that has raised concerns over air quality and public health in nearby communities.
Hontiveros urged authorities to revisit the implementation of Republic Act No. 9003 and its amendments, saying the incident highlights long-standing gaps in how waste is managed nationwide.
“For several days, residents in the CAMANAVA area and even neighboring provinces have been exposed to unsafe air conditions that should never have reached this level,” she said, describing the situation as alarming.
The senator noted that she had already filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 285 earlier this year, calling for an investigation into systemic failures in waste management following a landfill collapse in Cebu City. She said the Navotas fire underscores the urgency of that probe.
“This is exactly what we wanted to prevent. These incidents should not keep happening, and the real tragedy would be failing to correct the clear lapses in our system,” she said.
Hontiveros stressed that the latest fire is not an isolated case, pointing to previous landfill-related incidents in Cebu City and Rodriguez, Rizal. She said these reflect deeper issues tied to the country’s continued dependence on landfills as a primary waste solution.
“Our laws are clear—landfills should only be a last resort, not the default option. But weak implementation of waste reduction, segregation, and recycling at the local level continues to push large volumes of garbage into these sites,” she said.
She also flagged concerns over regulatory oversight, particularly provisions under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2017-15, which she said limit monitoring in some landfill projects. According to Hontiveros, certain facilities classified below a specific capacity are not subjected to regular oversight, allowing potential violations to go unchecked.
“If monitoring is weak, violations can slip through. The DENR must ensure strict enforcement of environmental compliance, including proper closure and rehabilitation of landfill sites,” she said.
Hontiveros reiterated the need to prioritize the Senate inquiry she proposed, saying stronger enforcement mechanisms and accountability measures are essential to prevent future incidents.
“This is no longer just about waste management. It affects public health, the environment, and the safety of our communities. Immediate action is needed before another disaster happens elsewhere,” she said.