Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Cagayan de Oro: EMB team to investigate plant pollution (11:07 p.m.)
By Danilo V. Adorador III
CAGAYAN DE ORO--A team of pollution control specialists will be sent to a metal smelting plant in the Misamis Oriental town of Villanueva, after residents there complained the plant has been emitting hazardous particles.
Sabdullah Abubakar, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Northern Mindanao, said a test will be conducted to Elegant Chemical Alloy Corporation to determine if the smelting plant has complied with the government's "emission standards."
In a complaint letter to the Capitol, residents in San Martin Village blamed the Elegant Chemical Alloy Corporation for the rise of digestive and respiratory ailments among the population. They said the plant emits black, putrid, dusty particles.
However, Abubakar said the illnesses suffered by the locals can't be necessarily tied to the plant's emission.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro's made several attempts to reach the company on Wednesday for its comments but to no avail. (Sun.star Cagayan de Oro) |
