|
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Treatment facility withdraws plan to close, awards 12 ‘clean’ hospitals
After three years of pouring money into a hospital waste treatment facility, Cebuano company Pollution Abatement Systems Specialists Inc. (Passi) is now earning enough to sustain the operations of the project.
It can even afford to give awards to its customers—12 hospitals, health establishments and laboratories in Metro Cebu that brought their wastes to the treatment facility, located inside the sanitary landfill compound in Inayawan, Cebu City.
Not closing
Passi president Antonio Tompar told Sun.Star Cebu the company has decided not to close the hospital waste treatment facility now that it is starting to earn.
Late last year, Passi bared plans to close the facility and transfer to Manila as only a few hospitals had availed themselves of the waste treatment services.
“At least now, we are not pouring money anymore, because the company’s current income is enough to sustain the operation,” Tompar said at the sidelines of Passi’s third anniversary celeberation at the City Sports Club last Tuesday.
Clean dozen
At its anniversary celebration, Passi awarded what it calls the “clean 12”: St. Vincent General Hospital, Cebu Puericulture and Maternity Home Inc., Cebu Doctors’ Hospital-Osmeña Blvd. branch, Perpetual Soccour Hospital, Gullas Medical Center, Camp Lapu-Lapu Station, BioPath Clinical Diagnosis, Hi-Precision Diagnostic, Visayas Community Medical Center, CWS-Heltgard Hygiene Systems Inc., Lab Core Center and the Bureau of Quarantine.
“We call them the clean 12 because they have complied with Republic Act 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” Tompar said.
RA 6969 requires the proper management and disposal of toxic and hazardous substances, including medical wastes.
Jun Erasmo Villafañe of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) earlier said hospitals and health establishments in Cebu must install treatment facilities for their medical wastes or they will be fined for violating the law.
While the EMB is giving hospitals the discretion to pick the technology they want to use, the bureau has recommended the hospital waste treatment facility of Passi, so the hospitals can save money.
Contamination
Tompar said some hospitals bury their toxic wastes, a practice that may result in the contamination of groundwater sources.
Passi’s autoclave machine at the treatment facility kills viruses and bacteria in medical wastes by employing heat. It is equipped with a metal chamber sealed by a charging door and surrounded by a steam jacket.
Steam is introduced into the chamber using the required temperature to kill the bacteria.
“The autoclave technology is the most commonly used health care waste treatment alternative in the United States,” Tompar said.
Investment
Passi has invested about P15 million in the facility. The company expects to get the return of their investment at least two years from now.
Tompar the company wants to contribute in making Cebu a “healthier and cleaner place to live in” by treating hospital wastes. This vision has encouraged Passi shareholders to hold on to the project despite financial difficulties, he added.
Passi, composed of professional Cebuano mechanical engineers, is also involved in environmental management and engineering consultancy. (JBN)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 27, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
