SMAI delayed its entry until February 2026, citing transition requirements, but it assumed control without fully taking on closure responsibilities under the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Republic Act 9003, according to PhilEco.
A planned cloverleaf interchange, critics said, runs counter to DENR guidelines for Category 4 landfills, raising concerns that development timelines were prioritized over safety.
PhilEco said it had begun implementing a Site Closure and Rehabilitation Plan before its removal, with SMAI and the Navotas City government aware of the process. It added that being denied access prevented the completion of the rehabilitation.
SMAI took possession of the site, reportedly interrupting closure efforts and clearing the way for infrastructure linked to the New Manila International Airport project.
On 10 April 2026, less than two months after the takeover, a fire burned 28.6 hectares, or more than 71 percent of the landfill, based on Philippine Space Agency data. Toxic haze spread across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
PhilEco said it had warned the authorities, including the court, the Navotas City government, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, that building an interchange over the landfill could trigger fires, methane buildup and leachate leaks.
These warnings, based on DENR safe closure guidelines prohibiting such construction in a Category 4 landfill for at least 30 years, were not acted upon. (To be continued)
