SAN SIMON Teachers in a public elementary school here have called on their barangay and town leaders to immediately act on the air pollution in their community allegedly being produced by steel plants.
The teaching personnel and parents of students at San Isidro Elementary School expressed fear over the harmful effects of smoke emitted by the steel factories to their and their students’ health.
San Isidro Elementary School stands near Quezon Road where several smelting plants are located.
The teachers disclosed that smoke coming out of the steel plants is seen from their school.
“Hindi naman madalas pero may mga araw na talagang nakikita at naaamoy ang usok dito sa eskwelahan,” they said.
The teachers admitted that no one from their faculty and staff, or students are manifesting symptoms of lung-related diseases yet. But they echoed their
fear of possible sickness due to the thick and black smoke coming out from the factories.
“Huwag na sanang hintayin na may magkasakit o lumala ang hindi pa nadedetect na sakit,” they added.
Barangay San Isidro Chairman Randie Flores assured the school community and his constituents of the measures being done by the local government to address the problem.
He reiterated Ordinance No. ‘23-003 he sponsored at the Sangguniang Bayan which seeks to require steel plants to modernize their air pollution control devices (APCD).
Flores, president of the town’s Liga ng mga Barangay, is an ex-officio member of the local council.
“Meron mga planta na ang mga APCDs ay talagang old model na so why not modernize them. More than 15 or 20 years na silang nakikipagnegosyo dito sa San Simon at naging welcome naman sila sa bayan at barangay namin so siguro payback time,” he said.
“Tumulong naman sila sa pag-save ng environment at i-minimize o kung pwede tanggalin ang negative impact ng kanila negosyo sa health ng among mga kababayan," he added.
Ordinance No. ‘23-003 has been approved by the local council. Mayor Abundio “JP” Punsalan, Jr. is yet to approve or veto the ordinance.