Motor oil factory in Caloocan hit

Despite its global recognition for advocating advanced technology, Bensan Industries Inc. in Caloocan City, which is engaged in refining used motor oil, is being assailed by residents and teachers of a public elementary school due to toxic wastes allegedly emanating from its processing plant.

Residents of Grem Ville Subdivision in Barangay Bagbaguin and teachers of Bagbaguin Elementary School, led by principal Namnama Eidra, complained of stomach pain, head ache, chest pain, cough, dizziness and vomiting every time they inhale the pungent odor allegedly emitted by the Bensan oil refinery.

The complainants said that aside from air pollution, oil spillage that flows to a nearby creek, is also endangering the life and safety of the residents, as on at least two occasions in the recent past, it caught fire but was quickly contained.

The obnoxious odor reportedly affects not only the health of the pupils and residents of that part of Caloocan but also a part of Valenzuela as the plant is situated at the boundary of the two cities.

"Measures should be undertaken immediately as the health and safety of the people living around the plant are at stake," the residents said.

City Administrator Mamerto Manahan said that Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo, after personally inspecting the processing plant late last year, gave Bensan Industries a five-year period for the gradual phase-out of the refinery that is operating under a temporary permit.

Benjamin Santos, the plant owner belied the allegations saying the residents were "misinformed."

"The area is host to at least 50 factories. All are connected to the creek and most of them are using oil in their operations," Santos said.

Santos said that being a chemical engineer and an environmentalist himself, he is aware of the hazard of improper dumping and burning of used motor oil.

"I spent 21 years of my life studying how to re-refine petroleum-based waste oil and sludge in order for them not to contaminate the environment and endanger the life of residents for there is no way used oil could be properly disposed of," he said.

Santos claimed that in 1994 he perfected an invention known as "Bensan Zero Waste Technology" which won him "The Most Outstanding Invention of the Year" award from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Santos said that his plant is utilizing the technology with permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

He is now appealing the decision of Malonzo and is proposing the creation of a task force that would determine the real cause of pollution in the area.