Locals get sick: Coal plants blamed

Residents that had been suffering health issues put the blame on Petron and San Miguel Corporation as ash waste from the coal-fired power plants cover sitio Prexsite in Limay, Bataan.

San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp. coal-fired power plant in Limay, Bataan (PHOTO BY TONETTE OREJAS / INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON)

According to the group, LICCA (Limay Concerned Citizens Incorporated), around 500 locals had gotten sick from the ash.

“It would have been better if it was only me and not my son; those [power plants] need to be shut down because a lot had already been affected,” Sheila Aniban, a local resident and mother, said in Filipino.

Aniban’s son, Lawrence, had gotten rashes only when the ash waste came.

Another local resident, Violeta Yelo, stated that it was very difficult to breathe and that it was like having sand inside the lungs.

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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez stated that “heads will roll” and that there will be action to stop the plant from further operations with a cease and desist order.

Last December 2016, the DENR ordered the Petron plant to stop using its own ash pond where the waste was collected.

Instead, the two companies use only one temporary ash pond.

“This place was not really meant for us… we were told to move and to stop all operations, so we really had some  catching up to do,” Vice President of the Refining Division, Freddie Yumang said.

The ashes were watered to dry so it would not be blown by the wind.

However with over 250 tons of waste ash and that the San Miguel plant is still not fully operational the process of watering is not completely followed.

“We are hoping to be given a permit to make the dumpsite [ash pond] so that we have a place for the long term and to avoid this kind of situation,” Yumang said.

            There were already plans for a permanent dumpsite the heads of the plants had been waiting for the permit from the local government unit (LGU).

            “We will be talking to the residents and we will definitely address their concerns,” Yumang said.