DENR unit clears Dole Phils-Surallah

Dole Philippines-Surallah, a firm engaged in the production and canning of fruits and fruit juices, has been allowed to operate after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) issued a temporary lifting order (TLO) following the firm’s compliance with the requirements imposed by the environmental agency.

PAB records show that a cease and desist order (CDO) was issued to Dole on July 24, 2007 for operating without the necessary permits as required by R.A. 9275 or the “Clean Water Act of 2004” and R.A. 8749 or the “Clean Air Act of 1999”.

Jonas R. Leones, secretary and legal counsel of PAB, said Dole was discovered to be operating its waste treatment facility without a valid discharge permit and its air pollution source installations without a permit to operate.

Leones added that “a certain Yolanda Bulecer also complained that wastewater coming out from the concrete wall of the Dole’s plant was producing not only strong and offensive odor but was also polluting her nearby farm lot.”

Dole, also failed to comply with some of its commitments, such as failure to apply for renewal of necessary permits, non-submission of self-monitoring reports, and construction of an extension of its waste treatment facility without the necessary DENR permits, Leones said.

Following receipt of the CDO, Dole complied with the requirements prompting the PAB to lift the CDO.

Meanwhile, the DENR has ordered a food firm based in Paranaque to stop its operations for environmental violations.

A CDO was issued last July 4 against Tobi Marketing, Inc. for alleged violation of the effluent and emission standards prescribed in the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts or RA 8749 and RA 9275 and their implementing rules and regulations.

Leones said Tobi Marketing, a firm engaged in food manufacturing, failed to comply with the requirements set by the DENR despite the opportunities given to it.

Leones said that Tobi Marketing continued to defy DENR’s repeated warnings to upgrade its waste water treatment facility.