CH urged to stop chemical repacking business in Tisa

CEBU, Philippines - The Tisa Hills Village Homeowners Association has sought the help of the Cebu City government to stop the business of one of the residents in the village.

The association alleged that a certain Nolasco Cisneros is engaged in repacking liquefied chemicals for export.

“Last February 11, 2015, at 4:45 p.m. a chemical spill occurred, causing a child to be hospitalized due to suffocation. For the past years, we have been breathing, smelling obnoxious, foul, filthy air because of the chemicals stored and kept by Mr. Cisneros in connection with his business,” the letter of the association to the City Council read.

The association said that the chemicals emit bad odor and are “very hazardous” to the residents’ health.

The City Council has referred the matter to the City Health Department and Barangay Tisa for appropriate action and recommendation.

However, the City Council’s ex-officio member and Tisa Barangay Captain Philip Zafra said that his barangay has already acted on the incident prior to the letter of the association.

“Naka-issue na ta og Cease and Desist Order sa tag-iya sa maong business after atong incident nga na-hospital ang bata,” he said.

Zafra said that the residents called the attention of the barangay on the incident, saying that the barangay also asked the assistance from the Bureau of Fire Protection-7 and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to respond to the incident.

“Pag-estorya nato sa tag-iya, ingon niya nga nasayop og mix iyahang tao sa chemical maong baho gyud kaayo ang resulta. Wala ta kahibaw unsa gyud to nga chemical basta usa siya sa chemical para mix sa muriatic acid,” he said.

Upon the inspection of the barangay, Zafra said that Cisneros presented a permit from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

He said that the CDO will not be lifted in any case, saying that the business should not be done in the residential area.

Zafra said that the Tisa Hills Village has over a hundred residents and the business owner should consider the matter.

The association asked PDEA, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and others to conduct ocular inspection so that the business will not continue.

Zafra said that the barangay will continuously conduct random inspection to assure that the business will not operate again.— /FPL (FREEMAN)