Plant dumping waste into river?

CEBU, Philippines - Claiming that its operation has contaminated the nearby Cotcot River, a priest and a German national are asking the local government of Liloan to once again close a plastic melting factory operating in the town.

German national Karl Herbich and Fr. Jhun Paradiang, rector of Don Bosco Boys’ Home and Training Center, lodged their written appeal to Liloan town mayor Vincent Duke Frasco asking him to reconsider his decision to allow JIP Plastic, a plastic melting plant, to operate again.

“It is possible that even the soil and the ground water are contaminated by now. They are putting everyone in this area in danger and they do not seem to care since they don’t live here themselves. Let’s not put the life and health of so many on the palm of the hands of so few,” the letter dated May 17 reads.

Franz, son of Karl, in an interview with the media, said the firm has been depositing its wastewater into the Cotcot River, located just at the back of the firm. JIP plastic was closed late last January and was allowed to resumed operations recently.

Franz alleged that the plant’s septic tank, which he believes has a tube connecting to the river, releases its wastewater content to the river once a week. He said he is positive that the grease and the chemicals, the alleged reason why the water in the river has turned black, are from the water used in the plastic crushing process.

Franz said that before JIP Plastic came years ago, the water in the river was reportedly crystal clear. Today, no fish could be found in the river and it is possible that contamination has reached to the ground. The Herbichs live just beside the JIP Plastic plant.

The plant, which melts and crushes used plastic materials, has been operating for the last two years. In late January, the municipality of Liloan, after receiving a series of complaints from Karl and Paradiang, ordered it closed for lack of business permit, and an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Last year, both Karl and Paradiang bombarded the municipal government of complaints citing the hazards the plant operation has allegedly caused to the health of the locals especially the children living in the nearby training center.

However, a few weeks after the temporary closure, the firm was allowed to resume operations to enable the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to take water samples from the river for tests.

Last March 11, the plant was given a 90-day period to process its permits. The timeframe is yet to lapse this month, but the complainants are demanding that the plant be closed, as results of the water test from DENR is reportedly in favor of the plant.

Franz said it is impossible to believe that the water in the river is not contaminated, considering that the way it looks already shows it is dying due to the presence of chemicals.

The Herbichs tapped the services of the University of San Carlos Water Laboratory to conduct independent water tests. The results of the tests from USC differed from that of DENR.

“It is hard to believe that the water samples examined by the DENR have passed the standards when the damage can be seen even with naked eye,” Franz said.

Franz contended that the water in some areas of the river far from the plant is still in its normal color.

“These abnormalities in the river bed, which happen to appear around the area of JIP Plastic can be noted at anytime unless after heavy rain which would wash the evidence away,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, a female staff member of the plant who refused to be named denied they are dumping their wastewater into the river. She said that they have special areas where they store the wastewater for treatment.

She said a soft drink company operating nearby could possibly be the one dumping its wastewater into the river. She added they could not have violated environmental laws, considering that their application for permit is still pending and that DENR continues to monitor their operation. (FREEMAN NEWS) . /JMO