Wednesday, July 09, 2008 NBI raises concerns on forensics test wastes
CONCERNS on proper waste disposal were raised after authorities identified the Cebu International Port (CIP) as the area where five refrigerated container vans and two mobile forensic laboratories will be stationed.
Because the grounds of the CIP are concreted, wastewater from the processed cadavers may be a problem, said Dr. Renato Bautista, chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) medico-legal division.
Forensic experts said proper waste management is a priority and they would not allow wastewater and other hazardous waste to just flow into the waters off the CIP.
Not final
The bodies of the victims of the sinking of mv Princess of the Stars will be processed in the mobile forensic laboratories and will be stored in the refrigerated container vans.
Bautista said that for now, the work site at the CIP is not yet final. It will be finalized only after they can come up with a concrete waste disposal plan.
“There should be a proper waste disposal plan,” he told reporters, adding that wastes coming from the bodies are considered biohazards.
Supt. Anthony Obenza, chief of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime Visayas Field Office (PCTC-VFO), said that aside from the wastewater, they would also have to dispose scrubs, gloves and other materials used in processing the bodies.
Obenza also said that they have asked the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to help them with the waste disposal.
During a meeting with Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Bautista said DENR should definitely look into the matter of waste disposal since the water and other wastes from the bodies are hazardous.
Drums
Neil Angelo Sanchez, operations chief of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said that the EMB has initially suggested using drums in collecting the wastewater and biohazards.
“EMB suggested the use of drums with a suction pump, which they would later transport,” said Sanchez.
As to where the EMB would transport the drums filled with biohazards, Sanchez and NBI officials are not sure yet and would leave it to the DENR.
Last Sunday, five refrigerated container vans arrived from Manila. A 60-footer mobile morgue, which will also serve as the mobile forensic laboratory, is expected to arrive anytime from Norway. (EPB)
