Many residents of Nangka Village, Marikina City appeared to be defying the order of city authorities for them to stay away from the so-called "kalan ng bayan” or “methane kitchen" – the dumpsite where methane gas seeps from the ground producing fire.

City authorities earlier warned that the fumes from the dumpsite fire where residents cook their meals could be hazardous to their health.

The Marikina police have intensified their monitoring of the area after being informed that some residents have returned to the prohibited site.

Last Saturday, some 15 individuals were spotted by the Manila Bulletin in the area, carrying cooking utensils and personal belongings.

When interviewed, they said they reside near the site and that most of them were affected by tropical storm "Ondoy." They said they don't want to be relocated to Laguna where some informal settlers were brought in earlier, saying they are unsure of the fate that awaits them there since their means of livelihood are in Marikina City.

"Nabagyo na kami, tapos dito paalisin pa kami. Kung tutuong delikado ang magluto dito sana nuon pa nila pinagbawal yan. Nuong Huwebes pinaalis na nga kami kaya kung saan saan na lang kami nagluluto at natutuloy," an irate old man said.

A 15-year-old girl claimed that the methane gas they use for cooking is not hazardous since no one among those who use it has died or fallen ill.

"Hindi po delikado ito at wala pa po sa aming namatay o nagkasakit. Sa halip po nakatutulong po ito bilang kapalit sa mahal na gas," the girl said.

When this reporter tried to convince them to avail themselves of the relocation site being offered by the local government and to have a permanent residence outside Metro Manila, one woman shouted, “Kung di kami magluluto, pano kami kakain? Dati naman nagluluto kami dito.”

Senior Supt. Romeo Magsalos, when asked about the security measures that the police are doing to ensure that informal settlers will not go back to the prohibited area, replied, "Closed na yun since the other day. Pinacheck ko sa pulis natin wala nang tao dun."

Indeed the informal settlers were instructed to leave the place last Thursday, but some residents started returning Friday night while others were seen last Saturday morning.