Local News

Pontevedra mayor hoping for EMB action over pollution problem

Teresa D. Ellera

PONTEVEDRA Mayor Jose Benito Alonso said he is hoping that the government through the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) would act and address the problem on pollution brought by the wastewater of a sugar central and a chemical company located in La Carlota City.

Alonso said so many meetings have been held with EMB but the agency has done nothing to address the problem.

"In fact, I did not attend the recent meeting. Instead, I just submitted a position paper because there was enough meeting conducted already," Alonso said.

The mayor said the pollution problem usually arises during rainy days when the sugar central and the chemical company allegedly release their wastewater on the river. "They don't do it when it's not raining because it would easily be detected," Alonso said.

He said they are hoping that Central Azucarera de la Carlota Inc. (Caci) in Barangay Nagasi, La Carlota City would already finish the construction of a dam that collapsed in May this year, that's why their wastewater spilled over and caused fish kill among the rivers in Pontevedra.

Some wastewater from Roxol Bioenergy Corporation, also located in La Carlota, were also causing pollution to the rivers in Pontevedra.

Water discoloration that caused the fish kill in some rivers in Pontevedra has also been reported early this month.

THREAT. According to a Capitol consultant, the Cebu City Government is threatening to shut down the Cebu North Bus Terminal at the back of SM City Cebu (left) and the Cebu South Bus Terminal along N. Bacalso Ave. for operating without a business permit. The Province, which runs both terminals, maintains that it operates the facilities as a public service for passengers going to the province and vice versa. /

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