REPRESENTATIVE Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) is urging port and Customs authorities to inspect all warehouses and storage facilities in Cebu for hazardous materials that may be kept there.

In a statement, Garcia said the contents of storage facilities in port areas, where many seized cargo and container vans are kept for months, even years, could be a cause for concern.

Without a proper inventory and identification, these goods may pose a risk to the safety of Cebu, a passenger and cargo hub that just recently re-opened.

The call comes in the heels of twin explosions in Beirut that have killed more than 70 and injured at least 3,000. It has been reported that 2,750 tons of an explosive material seized by the Lebanese government years ago had been stored in the blast site for six years.

“This tragedy from across the world could be an eye-opener. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. Their deaths and injuries should at least not be in vain,” Garcia said in a statement. (PR)