Thursday, July 24, 2008 Toledo folks threaten to sue power firm for ash dumping
LAWYERS of the residents and stakeholders who are complaining about the continued dumping of coal ash in Toledo City threatened to file a criminal complaint against a power plant and local government officials.
Benjamin Cabrido and Santiago Ortiz asked Global Business Power Corp. officials, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo to issue a cease-and-desist order against the dumping of coal ash in Barangay Tubod.
Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) said he will again call the attention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to check the activity.
Pablo John said he is closely monitoring the disposal of wastes by Global Power.
He said he met with officers of the firm who told him that they are still looking into a long-term solution to the problem.
“I will hold on to them (Global Power officials). If they still continue to dump in such a way that it affects public safety, I will ask the concerned agencies to act on it,” he said.
“You just can’t be dumping coal ash wherever in the vicinity,” he added.
The congressman said he also asked the power firm to take precautionary measures, particularly on the wastes that were already dumped in the critical area.
Expansion
Though he is supporting the operation of the power plant in Toledo City since Cebu needs additional power, Pablo John clarified that the toxic substances from the power plant’s expansion should be seriously treated.
Citing Section 48 of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act and Section 47 of RA 8749 or the Clean Air Act, Cabrido and Ortiz said the indiscriminate dumping of coal ash caused “irreversible damage to the environment and direct injury.”
Garcia earlier made a statement against the coal ash dumping after complaints reached him that some locals were experiencing respiratory problems.
Mayor Zambo said she studied how to resolve the problem of fly ash in Toledo City even if she believes the fly ash is “not hazardous.”
Zambo said coal ash can be sold to cement plants or be used as an ingredient in making hollow blocks. (GMD)
