CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – After determining that its operations posed an “imminent, grave, and potentially irreversible threat” to the safety of workers, the Chuangxing Steel Inc. in Magalang, Pampanga has been ordered to shut down by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
This, according to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission executive director Benjamin Acorda Jr. during an inter-agency press conference with the National Bureau of Investigation on July 28.
The steel factory was raided by the NBI and the PAOCC on July 18, where 300 workers and 37 Chinese nationals were secured and four company officers were arrested for alleged violations of RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), RA 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act), and RA 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990).
The company is also being linked to the alleged manufacture of substandard steel and the presence of radiological isotopes, which authorities said could cause health risks.
Mayor Malu Paras-Lacson on July 23 issued an order suspending business operations of Chuangxing Steel Inc. based on the Notice of Issuance of Order of the Environmental Management Bureau-DENR.
“Nagtutulong-tulong… sumusuporta po ang local government ng Magalang. In fact, they were the ones who initiated our town hall meeting, para makita nila at malaman nila kung ano talaga yung problema sa dalawang aspeto. And of course, hindi rin nila kinakalimutan ang kanilang mga kababayan,” noted Acorda of the mayor’s action during the press conference. Photos: Magalang LGU/Screengrab from NBI livestream
