Manila, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has distributed free personal hygiene kits, as well as N95 and KN95 face masks in Obando, Bulacan where residents remain in evacuation centers due to overwhelming smoke from the fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill.
Obando, Bulacan Municipal Mayor Ding Valeda says that several of their residents have already been reported hospitalized.
According to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, the smoke from burning waste may contain toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide, methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, which are highly dangerous to health.
Earlier, the DOH spokesperson said that the primary concern for residents exposed to the smoke is PM2.5, or fine particulate matter that can enter the lungs especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and those with asthma.
The agency has also issued an advisory stating that the haze from the landfill may cause difficulty breathing, coughing, chest tightness, watery eyes, nasal irritation, and worsening of respiratory diseases such as asthma.
According to the latest Air Quality Monitoring Dashboard of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), air quality in Valenzuela City is at hazardous levels.
Meanwhile, children, the elderly, and individuals with heart conditions, asthma, and lung diseases in Caloocan, Marikina, Quezon City, and parts of Bulacan are at higher risk of experiencing the effects of the haze.
Based on reports from the local government of Navotas, the fire continues to burn beneath more than 40 hectares of the old dumpsite, producing smoke that can be seen in aerial video footage.
At present, soil is being used to cover the areas of burning waste where the fire and smoke are originating.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), along with Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, have already conducted inspections to determine further actions needed by various government agencies to fully extinguish the fire, which is now affecting not only Navotas but also nearby cities.