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Saturday, August 19, 2006
Mandaue residents complain vs. firm
At least 500 residents in Maguikay, Mandaue City are asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to take stronger action against a mining company for its alleged continued disregard of environmental laws.
They filed a petition last Dec. 16, which was the basis for the technical conference called by the Environmental Management Board (EMB) last May 2.
The residents complained of dust and smoke emission against firm.
The emission usually happens past 9 p.m. Experts from the EMB who checked the complaint confirmed this.
Although smoke coming out of the firm’s stacks is white, it envelopes nearby houses.
Carbon dioxide
An ambient air sampling found that the carbon dioxide in the smoke was heavy and exceeded the tolerable amount prescribed in the Clean Air Act.
During the technical conference, the mining firm’s legal counsel, Benjamin Negapatan, signed a promissory note that within three months his firm will do something about the smoke.
Among his promises were water spraying of road ways within the plant, collecting spilled materials or other measures of house keeping, increasing height of perimeter fence and conducting ambient air sampling, after compliance of new measures recommended by DENR.
But the residents said that nothing has improved three months after conference. Led by Ernesto Ouano and Silveno Quiros of Sugar Valley and Little Tokyo Homeowners Association and Joy Villarin, they went to the EMB office last Thursday to ask for more stringent action.
Health risks
“The dust and smoke is worse. They pose health risks, especially to our children,” Ouano said in an interview.
EMB 7 Director Alan Aranguez said another ocular inspection will be made and if the firm is found not adopting the agreed measures, a penalty will be imposed. (AIV)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 19, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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