LLDA stops firm's operations over Antipolo oil spill

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 2:03 p.m.) — The Laguna Lake Development Authority ordered a cement manufacturing company to stop some operations following an oil spill from one of its sites in Antipolo City in Rizal province.

The LLDA has issued an ex-parte halt order* against Solid Cement Corp. after one of its bunkers containing oil leaked and flowed into the rivers of nearby Teresa and Morong towns in the province.

The LLDA said the order is to prevent the oil spill which affected Teresa River through the Kayhinaog Creek, from further damaging the water sources in the nearby towns.

Lawyer John Andrew de Guzman of the LLDA's enforcement team served on Thursday urgent order to prevent undue ecological disturbance, deterioration, and pollution resulting from the oil spill.

During an inspection, the LLDA discovered that the spill happened at around midnight of September 7 when a bunker fuel tank overflowed. It is estimated that around 2,000 liters of oil was discharged to the river as a result of the overflow.

Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection Neric Acosta, who is also LLDA general manager, made it clear that the LLDA’s role is to ensure that the company complies with the regulations of the agency and the Clean Water Act.

"Anything that compromises water safety, such as sources of hazardous and toxic substances like oil depots, should be removed from our rivers and major bodies of water," Acosta said.

In the water sampling, LLDA's Environmental Laboratory and Research Division found out that the level of oil and grease in Bombongan River in Morong, which downstream is the source of the oil spill, was 69 milligrams per liter (mg/L), much higher than the normal acceptable level of 2 mg/L for "class" waters.

Editor's note: This story indicated, based on a statement report from the LLDA, that it was a cease and desist order that was issued against the cement company. The agency later on qualified the issuance as an ex-parte order, but refused to call it a "cease and desist order."