Mayor Eusebio set to inspect other factories

After dosing down the LMG Chemicals Corp. in Pasig City, Mayor Soledad Eusebio vowed to conduct a thorough inspection of other establishments in the city to prevent the occurrence of last Sunday’s toxic fumes poisoning that killed a housewife and hospitalized 30 others.

Eusebio assured Pasigueños that her administration will always be vigilant in containing local emergencies as last Sunday’s incident which left housewife, Ana Cahindi, 54, dead, and 30 others hospitalized due to dizziness and difficulty of breathing.

"We will strictly enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the operation of business establishments in the city," said Mayor Eusebio. The lady mayor, however, did not say when the inspections would start.

Eusebio said she rushed to the affected barangays and personally saw to it that the affected residents were safe and treated at the Pasig City hospital after the poisoning case reached her attention.

"Protection of the environment is one of the priority missions of my administration," said Eusebio. "We cannot compromise the safety of people living in Pasig."

Earlier, Eusebio ordered the closure of the LMG Chemicals Corp., a fertilizer plant, after it was pointed to as the source of toxic fumes that killed Cahindi and downed 30 other residents.

Eusebio said the fertilizer plant would remain closed and its business permit canceled until the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) issue certifications that its operations are environmentally safe.

Councilor Alejandro Santiago, an environmentalist and former LLDA general manager, was tasked by Eusebio to investigate the incident. Santiago has yet to submit his report to the lady mayor.

According to Eusebio, those responsible for the incident would pay dearly for it. "Sanctions would be imposed on officials found remiss in their duties," she said.

Meanwhile, Antonio Garcia, Chemphil Group chairman of the board, clarified yesterday that only the LMG Chemicals Corp., was shut down as per order of Mayor Eusebio.

Garcia pointed out that the company’s manufacturing plants namely Chemphil Albright and Wilson Corp., and Keinwater Phil. Corp., which were in no way involved in the said incident, continue to operate normally. — Non Alquitran