PONTEVEDRA Mayor Jose Benito Alonso has aired concern on the reported air pollution affecting some town residents, attributing it to the ethanol plant of Roxol Bioenergy Corp. (RBC) operating in the neighboring Barangay Nagasi, La Carlota City.
Alonso told SunStar Bacolod Monday, June 26, that residents of Barangay Don Salvador Benedicto have been experiencing intermittent foul odor since early June.
The mayor said he already discussed the concern with La Carlota City Mayor Luis Jalandoni III together with their respective environment and natural resources officers.
They agreed to come up with a joint statement if the foul odor continues.
“Unlike the recent fishkill incidents in our town, I believe the local government can now make immediate interventions with regards to air pollution,” Alonso said, adding that they cannot afford to just wait for the action of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), particularly the Environment Management Bureau (EMB).
In February this year, a fishkill reportedly hit rivers of the southern Negros Occidental town, affecting three villages, including Barangays San Juan, 1 and 2.
After more than a month, another fishkill incident was reported in Barangay Don Salvador Benedicto manifested by discoloration of water and dead fishes floating in the river.
Local officials have attributed both incidents to the wastewater being discharged by the ethanol plant to the rivers connecting the two localities.
RBC officials, however, dismissed claims that their plant caused the fishkill as it has implemented necessary measures and programs to comply with environmental laws.
The DENR-EMB in Negros Island Region, which conducted the water sample analysis, said test results showed that all parameters taken are within standards. Thus, it cannot ascertain yet whether there is pollution on the bodies of water where samples were taken.
Alonso reiterated that even before, the town has been experiencing foul odor, and he does not see any other possible cause of it but the ethanol plant.
The mayor cited that in September last year, the La Carlota City Government issued a 30-day suspension order against the RBC, the bioethanol subsidiary of Roxas Holdings Inc., after its plant emitted a foul odor affecting eight barangays of the city.
The following weeks, the cease and desist order was lifted after the foul odor coming from the plant was addressed.
Upon the lifting of the order, the operations of RBC were still suspended due to maintenance repairs of its plant. It resumed operations in October last year.