Engr. Jaime Santos, SMC & Petron consultant for refinery & plant operations, made this announcement during the multi-partite monitoring team (MMT) meeting in Limay presided by EMB Region 3 director Lormelyn Claudio.
Attending the MMT special meeting were Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia, Limay Mayor Lilvir Roque, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, non-governmental organizations, Petron and SMC, among some others.
Claudio issued the order stopping the dumping of coal ash Friday on two sites – Petron Limay Terminal and SMC site – after residents complained of ash fall.
The director said the coal plant can only dispose its waste in an area approved by the DENR after mixing it with soil to lessen corrosivity.
“Inilalabas ang bottom ash at dinadala sa Northen Cement factory sa Sison, Pangasinan matapos haluan ng lupa upang bumaba ang ph level,” Santos said. He said that the power plant had stopped dumping in the two sites.
Santos said that as longterm solution, they will build an ash pond in the company’s 27-hectare private property in Limay.
Limay Mayor Lilvir Roque said that while no dump site approved by DENR is in place, all wastes of the coal plant will not be permitted to be dumped in the town.
Alvin Pura, one of the affected residents, said since 2012 they were already voicing opposition against the coal power plant. He said that they were thankful that their problem in the dumping of bottom ash was given solution.
He, however, voiced another problem. “Paano naman kaya ang long-term? Pag-andar ng planta paano kami, ano gagawin sa community? Hindi nga sa amin ang lupa pero tao kami na dapat bigyan ng importansiya,” he said.
DENR Undersecretary Arturo Valdez said they have ordered the stoppage of dumping. “Sec. Gina Lopez is very strict. In any development, she wants it founded on social justice. Kapakanan, reklamo ng maliliit na tao, agad inaaksiyunan ni Secretary,” he said.
“Madaling solusyunan naman ang ash fall. Gumawa muna ng temporary pero immediate intervention tulad ng sprinkling with water ang alikabok na kayang-kaya ng SMC. Saka na yung long-term,” the undersecretary said.
On the alleged health problems of villagers, Mayor Roque said studies are being made to determine the cause of the sickness complained by residents. “In three to six months, malalaman ang resulta ng pag-aaral,” he said.
The mayor said that certainly, the municipality will help the aff ected residents as to their health needs.
“Pinag-aaralan pa kung ang mga sinasabing sakit ng mga residente ay galing sa coal ash,” said Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, provincial health officer.
Gov. Garcia said a medical team from the provincial and local governments and Petron are out to help residents.
Derek Cabe of the Coalfree Bataan movement said an estimated 500 residents are affected by pollution in the area, almost half of the number afflicted with illness like fever, cold, headache, asthma, skin rashes and hypertension.
Before the MMT special meeting, Cabe, a ranking member of Kilusang Pambansang Demokratiko, led a group of anti-coal activists and affected villagers of ash fall in a short rally in front of the Limay municipal hall.
Wearing face masks and carrying placards, the demonstrators, some children, denounced the coal plant.
