COTABATO CITY — The environment ministry on April 1 investigated the facilities of Lamsan, Inc. in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao to provide immediate intervention to residents’ complaint on ash spill coming from the factory which might affect their health.
Representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy’s (MENRE) Environment Management Services(EMS), such as Chief Environmental Management Specialists Engr. Amier Ashan Aplal, Engr. Nasser Awal, and Engr. Abdulmaoti Akmad, met with the officials of Lamsan to determine the cause of black ash and discuss corresponding solutions.
”Kami ay nakatanggap ng reklamo patungkol sa black ash na nakikita sa paligid ng nasabing lugar kaya nagsagawa kami ng agarang imbestigasyon sa factory ng Lamsan Inc. upang mabigyan agad ng solusyon at mapigilan ang paglala ng ash pollution,” Engr. Aplal said.
Some of the residents in Brgy. Crossing Simuay said black porous particles flew out of the factory and coated their furnitures and backyards with a powdery dust.
The EMS team proposed to increase the level of electrostatic precipitator at Lamsan’s factory, which is an air pollution control device that uses electrical forces to remove particulate matter inside the gas stream as it exits smokestacks or chimneys.
“Based on the inspection ang nakikitang remedial to mitigating ash pollution ay kailangan ma-adjust or increase the electrostatic precipitator dahil ito’y tumutulong upang ma-collect ang dust upang hindi na ito nadadala at sumasama sa hangin,” Engr. Aplal added.
On the other hand, Lamsan Inc. said they are willing to cooperate with the necessary steps by MENRE in order to fulfill their compliance with the environment and natural resources.
MENRE-EMS will conduct a re-evaluation and inspection of the factory to monitor the recommended adjustment on the electrostatic precipitator on April 19.
Engr. Aplal encourages other industries to have a collaboration with them if they will face some issues and problems that can affect the environment and natural resources.
“Ang EMS at industries are partners. We are partners in achieving the protection, management and enhancement area. ‘Wag po silang matakot na mag-apply sa amin kung may mga issues na kanilang kinakaharap nila dahil tutulunagan namin sila. Again, partners po namin sila dahil pag nagfe-fail sila, nagfe-fail din po ang office nmin,” he reiterated. (Johaira B. Sahidala/BIO)
