The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on Friday issued a suspension order against hazardous waste management firm SOLCHEM Philippines Inc. (SPI) for illegal dumping of toxic waste in a private lot in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Following a technical conference with officials of SOLCHEM and EMB-Region 4A director Allan Leuterio on Tuesday, EMB director Juan Miguel Cuna said the recommendation of the regional office is to suspend the company's transporter and treatment, storage and Disposal (TSD) registration certificates.
In the conference, SOLCHEM president and general manager Edwin Afzelius admitted to contracting a person identified only as "Boyong" to transport and store their partially treated hazardous wastes.
The company reportedly did not verify whether the individual actually operates a storage facility accredited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The company said they did not also know the location of the facility.
Last week, a total of 63 drums of hazardous waste were recovered in Barangay Langkaan I in Dasmariñas.
Upon investigation, truck driver Ramon Olager said the drums came from the treatment facility of SOLCHEM Philippines in Las Piñas City.
With this action, Cuna said the company violated Republic Act No. 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act.
He added, however, that the penalty for the company has yet to be determined.
“The temporary suspension of SOLCHEM’s TSD permits would mean that the firm is not allowed to transport and treat hazardous wastes until such time that the disposition that came up during the technical conference conducted between the EMB and SOLCHEM has been complied with," Cuna said. — JMT/VS
