Montalban issues health warning amid landfill fire

Authorities are working to contain a wildfire that broke out at the Rodriguez landfill in Montalban, prompting a health warning from the local government and contributing to hazy skies over Metro Manila on Monday.

The local government of Montalban said it is collaborating with the International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (ISWIMS) to extinguish the blaze.

Meantime, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued an advisory explaining the hazy conditions observed over Metro Manila on Monday as the agency attributed the haze to both the landfill fire in Montalban, Rizal, and a separate warehouse fire in Commonwealth, Quezon City.

“Based on the real-time air quality measurements conducted by the EMB (Environmental Management Bureau) DENR, the hazy skies observed over Metro Manila on 28 April 2025 may be attributed to (1) the fire that broke out at the Sanitary Landfill located at Montalban, Rizal, and (2) the warehouse fire in Commonwealth, Quezon City,” the Environment department said in a statement.

The DENR cited that particulate matter concentrations (PM10 and PM2.5) peaked between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. but had decreased to within guideline values by 9 a.m. The agency explained that air quality readings can vary depending on pollution sources and weather conditions and assured the public that the EMB would continue to monitor air quality.

The local government of Montalban reported that the fire on the upper portion of the landfill had been contained, while efforts to extinguish the blaze on the lower portion were ongoing.

Authorities added that some residents living near the landfill had been evacuated, and face masks had been distributed to those affected.