Pasay residents urged to wear masks as Navotas landfill smoke reaches city
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano asked residents to wear masks outdoors after smoke from a Navotas landfill fire worsened air quality. Children, seniors, pregnant women and those with heart or lung issues were singled out.
MANILA, Philippines — Pasay City has issued an immediate public health reminder as smoke from a Navotas landfill fire began affecting air quality in the city.
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano urged residents to use face masks when going outdoors, warning that the haze could carry harmful chemicals and fine particles.. She added that the situation poses greater risks for children, older adults, pregnant women, and people living with heart or lung conditions.
In her statement on Monday, Calixto-Rubiano also urged residents to limit exposure while the air remains poor.. She advised people to stay indoors as much as possible, keep doors and windows closed, and avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the smoke period.. The city’s message was direct: reduce time outside and reduce the chances of breathing in polluted air.
Beyond personal precautions, Pasay’s guidance included practical steps meant to help residents cope with the immediate discomfort and potential health effects. Residents were told to drink plenty of water, and to seek medical attention if they develop severe breathing difficulties.
City officials said the Pasay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is actively monitoring the situation. The office is also coordinating with concerned agencies as authorities keep track of how the smoke moves and how it impacts local air quality.
For many families, the timing matters.. When smoke drifts into residential areas, even routine errands can become harder, especially for those who cannot safely stay indoors for long periods.. Children may still need to go to school or play, while some seniors rely on daily visits and basic mobility that can be affected by breathing discomfort.
There’s also a broader lesson in how quickly landfill fires can turn into a citywide health concern.. Smoke from burning waste can irritate the respiratory system and make existing conditions worse, turning “just air” into a day-to-day risk.. That is why the emphasis on masks and reduced outdoor activity tends to show up early in similar incidents—before symptoms become severe.
As the monitoring continues, residents are likely to keep watching the skies and feeling the effects, particularly in areas that are more exposed to the smoke’s path.. The guidance from Misryoum is to treat the air as a health hazard until conditions improve, especially for those most at risk—because small changes in exposure can matter when breathing becomes the issue.