Ang: SMC’s help in Navotas landfill is public service, not business

MANILA, Philippines – Billionaire Ramon Ang promised “no expense spared” in maintaining the Navotas landfill after the fire – a project he considers “public service” rather than a property venture – which has since been turned over to San Miguel Aerocity Incorporated.

“Baka akala ‘nyo hanapbuhay ‘to, hindi ah,” Ang told reporters on Monday, May 11. “Public service ‘to.” (You might think this is business, it’s not. This is public service.)

Officials from various government agencies have expressed gratitude to Ang who joined the landfill visit on Monday with Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre III, Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco, and representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

San Miguel Aerocity has taken over the property where the Navotas landfill previously operated. Following a court-ordered expropriation in 2023, waste management company Phil Ecology Systems Corporation (Phileco) had to leave and stop landfill operations.

The turnover was part of the development of the New Manila International Airport (also referred to as the Bulacan airport). Ang said a road would be built to connect Manila to the Bulacan airport and it would traverse the landfill area.

“Para from Manila Hotel you can go to Bulacan airport, 15 minutes,” he said. (So from Manila Hotel, you can go to Bulacan airport in just 15 minutes.)

From his spot in the landfill on Monday, Ang pointed towards reclaimed land over the horizon where the Bulacan airport is supposed to rise.

DENR Secretary Cuna said Phileco remains responsible for the landfill after-care. The environment department reported improving air quality.

Since the fire broke out in April, a new dirt road was built which connects the baywalk in Barangay Tanza in Navotas to the landfill. It cuts across water, in the vicinity of mangroves and Navotas’ coastal communities. Ang called the temporary road a “game-changer” that enables transport of equipment and workers to put out the fire.

“We will be here in the next 25 years,” Ang said. “For free.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Sunday, May 10, that the fire has been extinguished. Aside from San Miguel Corporation, Palace thanked private companies Prime Infrastructure and SM Prime in containing the fire. – Rappler.com