BISHOP Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos is urging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other government monitoring bodies to strictly monitor the proposed barging out of waste water by the San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. (SCBI).
"We are not opposing the barging out of waste water as long as it strictly complies with international protocols,” Alminaza said.
Alminaza said their concern is for the DENR and other government agencies concerned to strictly enforce the required conditions.
"They should really do their part," he said.
In the past months, foul odor had been emanating from the plant’s waste water lagoon. The pungent smell comes the untreated waste water with high acidity.
Alminaza attended Wednesday’s meeting of the San Carlos City Council where the issue of the barging out of SCBI's waste water was discussed.
The move has been approved by the DENR but Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. had opposed it.
"The integrity and the credibility of the process from beginning to end should be closely monitored," Alminaza said.
The bishop also called on the public to "get involved especially the barangays where it is located to ensure that there is no danger of spilling and to report immediately if there is a problem."
“We already have a volunteer who will be part of the multi-sectoral monitoring team tasked to monitor the dumping and make sure the regulations are fully complied with," he added.