BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
IT SEEMS that Victorias Milling Company (VMC) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Western Visayas are at “odds” right now.
Is there pollution or is there no pollution? Reading each of their (latest) report (sent to me via e-mail) is confusing. Who’s really telling the truth?
A three-page EMB report signed by its regional director, Atty. Ramar Niel Pascua, listed alleged violations with regards to the Philippine Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act from 2020 to present.
But EMB was also courteous enough to acknowledge some of the corrective measures, improvements and intensive monitoring done by VMC to address pollutions issues.
But the “entanglement” of facts and figures is quite blatant – now that VMC pollution “guru” Emalyn Apacible becomes assertive and as if “palaban” in her own findings and report as well.
On the controversial distillery plant in Purisima, Manapla, EMB said in January 2020, VMC was issued with a Notice of Violation (NOV) in violation of Republic Act (RA 9275) or Clean Water Act and its implementing Rules and Regulations (DAO 2005-10) due to the overflow of wastewater from the existing lagoon.
EMB also found violations in the Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of 2016.
To address the mess, the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) in Region 6 gave due consideration to VMC’s request for the amendment of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the construction of an Irrigation Pond and Waste Water Facility leading to the abandonment of the old lagoons. Such was meant to prevent further possible water pollution to Sicaba creek where fish kill happens from time to time.
PAB also issued clearance to VMC’s urgent request for its application for Discharge Permit (DP) for its wastewater to be used as fertilizer for sugarcane plantations of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Manapla town.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) approved it with the issuance of a Certificate for Safe Re-Use of Wastewater for Fertilization.
Then, things went well and smooth.
But on April 7, 2021, EMB conducted another inspection.
Probers found effluents from Lagoon No. 8.
“And it exceeds the standards for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and pH for Class C Water Body as set under Table 9 of DAO-2016-08 and DA Administrative Order No. 26-Series of 2007,” the EMB report read.
EMB then issued VMC with another NOV, and forwarded it to PAB for record and guidance.
Waters from Lagoon No. 8 is given for free to all ARBs in Manapla under VMC fertilization program.
With this, EMB notified DA to clarify, once and for all, if these “exceedances” of effluents from Lagoon No. 8 are in violation of their issued Certificate for Safe Re-Use of Wastewater for Fertilization.
DA is yet to respond.
In Physics, toxic compounds in the effluent disrupt aquatic ecosystem. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury present in the effluents are toxic to both humans and animals, added the Physics.
This is the premise why EMB informed DA to ensure that the purity of the cane (purisa sang tubo in Hiligaynon) can’t be compromised amidst this wastewater rumpus.
Hence, DA’s immediate response is being awaited until now.
But Apacible countered: “We have no Lagoon 8.”
And, “Our liquid fertilizer is not hazardous.”
Added Apacible, “You may be referring to our Irrigation Pond because we have no Lagoon 8.”
Then she stressed: “This Irrigation Pond is a containment area for the liquid fertilizer we use in helping a number of planters in fertilizing their sugarcane plants/fields.”
“May we emphasize that none of our wastewater from the Irrigation Pond gets discharged to any surface of water, thus, we are not violating DAO 2016-08,”Apacible underscored.
She furthered, “The results taken after analyzing the (April 7, 2021) samples from this Irrigation Pond that you are referring to are normal values for liquid fertilizers. Our liquid fertilizer is a byproduct. The standards you used referring to exceedance could be a different set of standards.”
Asked for comment, Manapla Mayor Manuel “Manolet” Escalante exclaimed: “Kapoy ‘na ko!”
“Indi pa ko mayor sa Manapla, problema na ini.”
He said, “If EMB will order the closure of the distillery this coming May 30, I’ll just abide by the order.”
“After all, it’s their job!”
“But, for me to close it, I won’t!” he punctuated as he “fears” to be accused of abuse of power.
Under Section 444 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the mayor is endowed with the authority to exercise police power by issuing business licenses and permits within their jurisdiction and, at the same time, can revoke such for any violation of certain conditions.
Proof to this was the case of San Carlos City’s Mayor Renato Gustilo, who ordered the outright stoppage of operations of an ethanol plant by the Roxas-led San Carlos Bioenergy, Inc. on Feb. 19, 2021, due to the recurring pollution issues.
But Mayor Manolet said, “VMC was never remiss of its social obligations to Manaplahanons.”
This COVID-19 pandemic, he confided that VMC really made some notable contributions to their barangays, especially during lockdowns.
Taxes-wise, VMC was proven to be generous, too.
As to the mill site, EMB said VMC has also been issued NOV docketed as 20-NOVA-0645-32 on June 4, 2020 for “exceedance” of ambient air standards within the area.
VMC, however, made corrective actions, particularly aimed at ceasing generation of Total Suspended Particles (TSP), EMB report said.
But in October last year, EMB found out another “mess”.
Although, VMC operating boilers were compliant to particulate matter standards, which is 200 milligrams per Normal Cubic Meter (mg/NCM) still three of its eight boilers have failed to comply with the National Emission Standards for Source Air Pollutants for Carbon Monoxide (CO) parameters which is 500 mg/NCM.
These were: Yoshimine No. 2 and Riley Boiers No. 1 and 5.
But Apacible said: Riley Boilers 2 and 4 underwent resampling on Feb. 26, 2021, and passed the standard parameters of Carbon Monoxide (500/NCM).
So confusing! Which is which?
Apacible also disclosed that all VMC boilers already have anti-pollution control devices like gas and polishing scrubbers, including electrostatic precipitator.
But on March 30, 2021, another air monitoring was conducted the mill site and Canetown Subdivision.
The result showed that every 7 p.m., there’s “exceedance” of ground level concentration of TSP of 358 mg/NCM, which is above the normal 300 mg/NCM.
But the monitoring body attributed this “exceedance” not just to VMC mill site, but also to traffic and other human activities in the area.
Canetown residents termed such exceedance (of ground level concentrate) as “biro” in Hiligaynon.
Google says, “biro” or soot is a black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon produced by incomplete burning of organic matter.
Soot can enter a human body though inhalation, ingestion or via the skin and eyes.
These toxic particles can cause breathing issues, including asthma bronchitis, coronary heart disease, and even cancer, www.puroclean.com warned.
On record, putting VMC in “hot water” situation was the letter-complaint penned Regoberto Soriano, addressed to Pesident Duterte and thru environment czar Roy Cimatu.
The Department of Environment of Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office took cognizance on it and immediately ordered EMB-6 to probe the matter as soon as possible.
In her April 20, 2021 memorandum, Merlinda Manila, head of DENR’s Action Center and Hotline head, reiterated to Pascua: “Failure to timely respond to the public’s concern shall be ground for administrative sanctions under existing laws and regulations.”
On May 30, EMB -6’s legal counsel, Atty. Arjunn Calvo, held a technical conference with VMC to know and assess the latest situation in the mill site.
VMC then submitted its March 30-31, 2021, including operating capacity of its Air Pollution Source Installation with Air Pollution Control Device, fuel used, hours operating and plant/production output.
Regular or daily air monitoring is being conducted (now) to assess air quality around the vicinity of the mill site.
And good news (as of this writing), EMB said air ambient quality within the mill site and Canetown was found to be within the standards already.
Still Neg.Occ’s 3rd Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, a Victoriahanon himself, said, “VMC needs to ensure compliance with air quality laws.”
“I hope they heed the DENR’s recommendations for the good of the citizens of Canetown as well as the mill workers themselves,” added Benitez, chairman of the House’s Committee on Housing and Urban Development.
Meanwhile, it’s alarming to note that EMB and VMC have “conflicting” reports.
Is a “communication crisis” in the offing?
I hope not, else VMC is heading to an “insurmountable” disaster./PN
