Pasig factory ordered closed

Mayor Soledad Eusebio ordered yesterday the immediate closure of a fertilizer plant believed to be the source of toxic fumes that killed a housewife and caused pulmonary problems to 30 others in Pasig City last Sunday.

According to Eusebio, she will not hesitate to order the permanent closure of the LMG Chemicals Corp. plant, located along Eliseo Road in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, should evidence indicate that the factory violated existing anti-pollution laws.

"Since lives of innocent people are involved, those responsible should pay dearly," Eusebio said.

A multi-sectoral probe team created by Eusebio started its inquiry yesterday to determine the cause of death of Ana Cahindi, 54, of 38 Salandanan St., Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

The team headed by Councilor Andy Santiago, an environmentalist and former general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) visited the barangays affected by the toxic fumes, and interviewed some of the victims and their relatives yesterday.

The LMG Chemicals Corp. factory, had been operating in Pasig City for the past 30 years, officials said.

Antonio Garcia, chairman of the Chemphil Group of companies which owns the fertilizer plant, issued a statement Monday, saying "LMG regrets this unfortunate incident."

He said the fertilizer company was assisting the victims of the incident "in whatever way we can."

Garcia also promised to cooperate in the investigation of the incident ordered by Eusebio.

According to Garcia, the sulfuric plant was shut down last Friday for repairs. The plant was re-started late Sunday afternoon and was closed down again after a malfunction occurred on its sulfur feed to prevent the emission of toxic fumes.

Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig City police chief, said the entire neighborhood were either having dinner or watching television when they inhaled the toxic fumes.

Felix Tajan, a former president of "Magsasaka ng Pasig" said the fertilizer plant had been emitting toxic fumes for some time now and have caused the destruction of their crops in the area.

But the plant’s operations continued despite the findings of the LLDA and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showing that three of the plant’s reactor chimneys were operating without anti-pollution devices, Tajan claimed.