Chemical plant closed due to pollution

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. (SBCI) in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental temporarily ceased operation starting on Feb. 19 due to environmental concerns.

In a letter to SCBI, Mayor Renato Gustilo noted the discoloration along the coastal waters of Sitio Maloloy-on in Barangay Punao due to waste discharge from the plant.

Although the SCBI initiated mitigating measures, such were not enough to cushion the effects of pollution to residents, Gustilo said.

The city government showed pieces of evidence including photgraphs and video footage taken in the area.

Gustilo advised the SCBI to temporarily cease its operation until after the company settled the issue.

He warned the company that the city government would ask the Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to issue a cease-and-desist order should it fail to immediately address the problem.

The city environment management office referred the problem to the pollution adjudication board of the DENR for proper disposition, according to Arthur Batomalaque, senior environment management specialist of CEMO.

Batomalaque said the company was penalized by the DENR.