Universal Robina Corp., owner of an ethanol plant in Bais City, has committed to pay the administrative fines for operating without an Air Pollution Source Equipment.
Provincial Environmental Management Unit chief Loreto Rivac said sanctions may be imposed as provided for in the procedural manual, at P50,000 each violation, subject to the evaluation of the Regional Director.
The commitment was contained in a document, signed among the stakeholders during the July 24 technical conference at the Environment Management Bureau office in Mandaue, Cebu.
The meeting was attended by URC legal counsel Mary Jane Balagtas, who committed to undertake measures as far as the foul odor is concerned.
The company also agreed to pursue the acquisition of adjoining ponds owned by private owners, to help solve the problem, adding that the Multipartite Monitoring Team should be activated so that any problem concerning the plant’s operation can be immediately acted upon.
She said they are open to hear any complaints from the neighborhood, adding they will also improve the perimeter of the containment lagoon, by concreting its boundaries within 90 days after the signing of the agreement.
Another technical conference is scheduled soon to tackle the operation of the waste water facility without a discharge permit, lack of information and education campaign, lack of mayor’s permit, and the absence of tree planting activities.
Meanwhile, results of the examination of the water samples sent to the regional office showed parameters that are beyond the standards of the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, including the pH level, biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and that the dissolved oxygen was reported at zero, something which could have caused the fish kill.
Rivac, however, said the result will still be subjected to interpretation by technical personnel.
Last month, fisherfolks in the coastal barangays of Manjuyod and Bais City asked concerned agencies for an immediate investigation of the reported fish kill that had affected their source of livelihood.
In their letter of complaint addressed to Aniceto Aquino, Community Environment & Natural Resources officer based in Tiguib, Ayungon, the Alangilanan United Fisherfolks Association, headed by Segundo Kadusale, and the Alangilanan Small Fisherfolks Association, led by George Llanera, claimed that their daily fishcatch had been severely reduced due to the discharge of liquid waste, allegedly from the milling plant of URC and the ethanol plant. (PNA/JG)
