Residents hit anew motor oil refinery in Caloocan City

Caloocan City residents assailed anew yesterday a used motor oil refinery firm for the alleged toxic wastes emanating from its processing plant making it a health hazard among the populace.

"The problem remains the same. We are still suffering from pungent odor emitted by Bensan plant, Alex Jalandoni, one of the residents living near the vicinity of Bensan Industries Inc. in Barangay Bagbaguin, complained.

Rosa Orbe, 82, also complained that several members of her family suffered mostly from respiratory illnesses allegedly caused by the foul smell coming from the said plant. "I often smell irritating odor coming from it," she said.

The STAR tried to reach Bensan Industries yesterday but to no avail. Earlier, the firm, headed by its owner and president Benjamin Santos, a globally recognized inventor of an environment friendly "Bensan Zero Waste Technology," met with the Caloocan City officials after teachers and students of Bagbaguin Elementary School complained of stomach pain, headache, cough, dizziness and vomitting everytime they allegedly inhale pungent odor emitted by the plant.

Santos denied the accusation, saying that Bagbaguin is host to at least 50 factories, most of them also using oil in their operations. Santos also said that of the factories, only Bensan Industries is utilizing an advanced technology adopted by the Australian government and recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

He said Bensan plant is operating with permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Santos even suggested the creation of a task force which would make a study that would pinpoint the real source of the pollution.

Jalandoni, however, maintained that other people or organizations are unaware of the residents’ experience living near the plant. – Pete Laude