by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (29 November) -- Appropriate legal action against violators of Republic Act No. 8749 otherwise known as the Clean Air Act in Misamis Oriental has been recommended to the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) in Northern Mindanao.

This was disclosed by Jun Dominguez, Chief of Pollution Cotrol Division during the recent meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health (RIACEH) held at the Dept. Of Health, Region 10.

Dominguez said ambient air sampling conducted at the Pacific Activated Carbon Company (PACC) in Gracia, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental showed particulate matter concentration of 2197 ug/Ncm which exceeds the 300 ug/Ncm standards of the Clean Air Act.

On the other hand, two (2) lead recycling facilities operating in Sta. Ana, also of the same town and in Zone 9, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City showed that recovered lead from used storage batteries are melted as roof fasteners and lead bars.

"Operating without permits, both lead recycling facilities have been issued Notices of Violation of RA 6969 otherwise known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste Act and RA 8749," Dominguez also said.

In a related development, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 3 is now in the process of determining the kind of chemicals that were thrown into the Marilao River in Sta. Rosa Uno and Dos, both of Marilao, Bulacan.

The alleged dumping which occurred between 1:00-2:00 a.m. was done by unidentified persons from a tanker that did not bear a plate number resulting in the hospitalization of 60 people.

About 3,000 residents of five (5) barangays along the river have evacuated from their homes due to the stench of chemicals that smell of a mix of garbage and kerosene causing them to breathe heavily and are now housed in the barangay halls.