Las Piñas resorts to water rationing

The Las Piñas City government has resorted to water rationing to answer the needs of residents living in areas affected by reported groundwater contamination, officials said yesterday.

Las Piñas City Public Information Office (PIO) said the move, done in coordination with concerned agencies such as the Maynilad Water Services Inc., will ensure that affected residents will have enough water.

"We are now also consulting homeowners’ groups and barangay officials as to what steps can be undertaken to address this problem of contamination," PIO chief Jimi Castillano said.

Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar earlier ordered the creation of a task force to determine the extent of the groundwater contamination in some areas of the city and come up with remedial measures to arrest any negative effects on residents.

Aguilar said the alleged trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination report covers only portions of Monarch Subdivision and Cristeta Subdivision in Barangay Pamplona I and Greenview Subdivision in Barangay Pamplona III, where the Philips Electronics and Lighting Philippines plant used to operate.

Officials of the plant, which manufactured electric lamps until it was closed down in 1996, conducted a clean-up of the site late last year and informed city officials in December 2006 that they are testing their water waste facility for possible chemical contamination.

Residents in the vicinity of the plant were immediately advised to stop using ground-sourced or deepwell water for bathing, washing or cleaning chores, or even watering plants until reports of an alleged chemical contamination have been verified and addressed.

Aguilar also demanded that Philips disclose their findings on its plant within one week. She also ordered the City Legal Office to determine if plant officials could be held responsible for the contamination incident.

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes said tests conducted on 102 deepwells around the Philips compound indicated that 19 wells tested positive for TCE, a chemical believed to cause cancer.

TCE is a chemical widely used as an industrial solvent to remove grease and oil in metal parts and textile, and as an ingredient in adhesives, paint remover, typewriter correction fluid, pepper sprays, pharmaceuticals and insecticides.

Experts said exposure to TCE could cause headaches, dizziness, increased risk of liver cancer, and increased possibility of miscarriage.

Benjamin Reyes, manager of the Maynilad business center that covers Las Piñas, said residents whose deepwells may have been affected can either be provided with water from Maynilad through public faucets, tankering or – in the case of subdivisions not yet serviced by Maynilad – the provision of bulk water service.

He also assured Las Piñas households serviced by Maynilad that the water from their faucets are safe and free of TCE.

Philips representative Donough Foley said his company will fulfill its responsibility in resolving the issue.