DENR closes 5 firms
violating green laws

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has shut down five firms found violating environmental laws.

DENR Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) assistant director Lawyer Jonas Leones, who is also the secretary and legal counsel of DENR’s Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB), said cease and desist orders were issued last July 22 against Victorias Sugar Milling Co. of Victorias City and Asian Alcohol Corp. in Pulupandan, both in Negros Occidental; Mingson Mining Industries, Inc. in Maguikay, Mandaue City; and Tobi Marketing and Seaside Seafoods Market and Restaurant, both in Parañaque City.

Leones said the companies violated standards under the Clean Air Act (RA 8749) and the Clean Water Act (RA 9275) and their implementing rules and regulations.

DENR said the chimneys of Victorias Sugar Milling Co. continuously emitted dark smoke despite ample time given to it to address its pollution. Results of ambient air samples taken from the surroundings of the firm showed a total suspended particulates (TSP) concentration of 790 micrograms/Ncm, exceeding the emission standards of 300 micrograms/Ncm.

Asian Alcohol Corp. failed to comply with the standards for effluents, or wastewater from industrial facilities. Sampling conducted by the DENR on Jan. 23, 2008 showed effluents at 640 mg/L, which is way above the standard of 150 mg/L for total suspended solids (TSS).

Mingson Mining violated the Clean Air Act when air samples from its surroundings on Jan. 22 and Feb. 1, 2008 exceeded emission standards. Seaside Seafoods Market and Restaurant violated the Water Pollution Act when its wastewater exceeded effluent standards. The firm was also slapped with a P200,000 per day fine.

Leones said Tobi Marketing, a food processing firm, was closed because the waste water coming from its nuts section did not conform to DENR standards.

Shemberg Marketing Corp. in Pakna-an, Mandaue City; Trust International Paper Corp., a paper mill in Mabalacat, Pampanga; and Puyat Steel Corporation, a manufacturing firm of pre-painted GI sheets, were issued formal lifting orders last June 13 after complying with DENR standards and paying the fines for their violations.

DENR said Shemberg was fined for violating the Water Pollution Law from April 5, 1991 to April 2001; Trust International Corp. was fined by the DENR on April 28, 2008 for the same offense; and Puyat steel was also fined on April 28, 2008 for the same violation.