EMB Region 3 director Lormelyn Claudio made the announcement during a dialog with villagers at the PEX site in Barangay Lamao here past 8 p.m. after a meeting with Limay Mayor Lilvir Roque.
“Ngayong araw na ito, nag-isyu kami ng order na ihinto ang pag-dispose ng bottom ash sa alinmang sites na pinagtatapunan,” she said.
The director said that before the bottom ash will be disposed, it should be neutralized with soil to lessen its corrosiveness and for it to be no longer hazardous. Disposal will only be permitted in an area approved by DENR, she said.
Bottom ash is one of two by-products of coal in power plants. The other is fl y ash used in the production of cement.
Claudio emphasized, however, that the operation of the coal plant will not be stopped. “Only stoppage of dumping of bottom ash,” she said.
The order involves the 140 or 150 megawatt plant operational reportedly for already three years.
She said that she has ordered management of the coal plant to undertake sprinkling of water for ash not to affect the community and the setting up of buff er zone by planting trees between the plant and the community.
The director also told residents that the company has committed to undertake medical missions.
Affected residents, however, seemed not to be convinced.
“Ngayon stoppage of dumping pero in the long run, ano na?” Alvin Pura asked the director. The affected residents demanded lasting solutions and sanctions on alleged company violations.
Claudio said EMB will install CCTV cameras to monitor the activities of the plant. “Kung mawala man ako at mapunta elsewhere, narito naman ang mga hepe ng iba’t-ibang departamento ng EMB,” she said in reference to reports that DENR Sec. Gina Lopez will see to it that heads will roll.
“Mag-report naman sana media na umaaksiyon naman ako. Tulad ngayon maghapon hanggang gabi narito ako,” the EMB director said smiling. With her were chemists, monitoring team and other officials and personnel of EMB in Region 3 and main office in Manila.
Derek Cabe of the Coal-Free Bataan Movement said they have written many complaints to EMB but the agency acted only recently.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Secretary Lopez at hihintayin at inaasahan namin ang magiging aksiyon niya,” Cabe said.
Cabe lamented: “The management of the plant still does not accept their violations. Hindi raw galing sa kanila ang abo.”
