Pasig, DENR ink MOA with chemical firm

The city government of Pasig, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau-NCR and RI Chemical Corp. (RICC) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) creating an Inter-Sectoral Monitoring Team (ISMT) whose primary purpose is to monitor compliance the firm with its environmental management plan.

Mayor Soledad Eusebio said that with the signing of the MOA, RI Chemical now binds itself to observe extraordinary diligence in handling and storing chemicals in their premises while the city government, barangay councils of Ugong and Bagong Ilog, DENR and other non-government organizations will closely monitor the compliance to the Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

The MOA also enjoins the firm to initiate and sustain an information campaign about the different chemicals stored in its premises and its characteristics to allay the fears and other misconception of residents living near the chemical plant.

It can be recalled that last April 6, the Vinyl Acetate Monomer tank of RI Chemical Corp., located on Joe Borris Street, Barangay Bagong Ilog, blew off its cover due to excessive heat. Fumes were released in surrounding areas resulting to the death of one and hospitalization of a hundred others.

Immediately after the incident, the Pasig City government,through the City Environmental and Natural Resources, issued a cease and desist order against RICC until it abated and controlled the foul odor emitting from the VAM storage tank.

The Inter-Sectoral Monitoring Team (IMT) shall be composed of the Pasig City/CENRO, DENR-EMB-NCR, Pasig City Health Office, Pasig City Fire Department, LLDA, RICC, Ugong Barangay Council and residents/Bagong Ilog Barangay Council and residents, Valle Verde residents, Joe Borris Street residents, Chateau Verde Condominum, Green Valley Country Club and Phoenix Condominium.

"I am confident that with the stringent measure we had been implementing and the continuous monitoring of the IMT, the incident which had occurred last April 6 will not be repeated" Eusebio said.

"I will not hesitate to order the closure of any factory or chemical plant, which does not follow their environmental management plan. For the health and welfare of my constituents comes first and foremost above others," she said.