West Tower's rejoinder and some bits on RH

We are reprinting a letter that residents of West Tower Condominium and Barangay Bangkal sent in reaction to an article that appeared in another newspaper quoting claims made by First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) on the ongoing cleanup of the petroleum products that leaked from its Batangas-to-Pandacan pipeline.

The letter, sent to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, was signed by Hector Z. Reyes on behalf of the Board of Directors of West Tower Condominium Corp. and Thelma D. Santos representing 250 Barangay Bangkal residents.

The rejoinder deals on several points raised by FPIC as written by Tina Santos for the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Sept. 30. Here are the salient points in the letter:

““…its waste treatment contractors are accredited and duly licensed wastewater treaters.”

“This is a lie. Check DENR’S website, www.emb.gov.ph/ hazardous/Treater, click on the List of Registered Treatment /Storage/Disposal (TSD) Facilities for Hazardous Wastes, one will see that both CH2MHILL and WSMSI are NOT accredited treaters by DENR.

““…FPIC has passed the bureau’s wastewater discharge analyses.”

“This is a lie. We took samples of the discharge into the estero and had the samples analyzed by an accredited DENR third-party laboratory, the same laboratory used by FPIC in its reports to DENR.

Direct to the estero

“The results showed these discharges direct to the estero contained large volumes of benzene, toluene, and xylene. The residents decried the fact the benzene is a carcinogenic chemical and that its disposal into the estero and into Manila Bay is a blatant violation of the Supreme Court mandate prohibiting the pollution of Manila Bay.

““Prior to any discharge, the hydrocarbon tainted water, which is estimated to have less than 0.1 percent hydrocarbon … is treated ….”

“This is misleading and has no basis in fact. FPIC claim is not backed by any actual laboratory report. On the other hand, we have submitted a complete set of laboratory reports in our complaint letter to Mr. Sheen of DENR. The report indicates that total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in substantial quantities are present in FPIC’s discharge to the estero.

Disregard for health and safety

 “FPIC and DENR claim that “the laboratory tests of their discharge samples passed the allowable limits” set by DENR’s Mr. Sheen.

“The limits imposed in the Special Water Discharge Permit issued by Mr. Sheen to FPIC did not test for petroleum hydrocarbons. While it is public knowledge that the pollutant is fuel from FPIC’s leaking pipeline, DENR, strangely, imposed test parameters that only address typical effluents from industrial plants. It is not surprising, therefore, that the discharge passed these parameters since tests for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons were not included.

“Please note that the West Tower residents and now the Barangay Bangkal community have banded together to deplore this utter disregard for their health and safety by FPIC and now by the government’s DENR. We were already displaced by FPIC’s fuel spill, now the whole community is slowly being killed by their discharge of carcinogenic chemicals.

“We lament the fact that, all these months, DENR have allowed and continue to allow FPIC, et al to discharge petroleum hydrocarbons into the city sewers and the estero which result in the contamination and pollution of other communities in Pasay, Parañaque, and ultimately to Manila Bay.”

Reader’s comments in support of RH

Nelly Dayon-Duckett of Bacolod City is back with more comments on the ongoing debate about reproductive health. Here are some parts of her letter:

“I hope that at this important time with the RH Bill in debate, The PS (Philippine Star) journalists will spare a thought for the six million illegal abortions that took place in the Philippines between 2000 and 2010.

“It would be a good thing for The PS to tell the Catholic bishops they should – rather than attack the RH Bill as the work of the devil – tell their priests to say special prayers for all these babies that suffered being aborted.

“Remember the estimated yearly total of 800,000 given by the former health secretary last year as not just a figure but what would have been kids in grade one climbing over public school desks to try to get to the CR (comfort room), if [there is] one.

“How many illegal abortions, most resulting from over-population, will it take before a doctrine is seen to bring so much evil to the Philippines? Vasectomy would be fine for the Philippines as it means no contraceptives.

“However with it comes to the need for mental freedom of a wife not to have to worry about getting buntis, a big role change can happen in the bedroom. It could leave husbands too tired to get up in the morning and go to work. However of course the held belief by many of the Catholic Church is that sex is for not pleasure but only making babies, and not a part of a loving relationship in marriage.

“Ana Marie Pamintuan has good views on the RH Bill but has never mentioned the level of illegal abortions in the Philippines or the reasons for it.

“Myself I believe it is the result of the Catholic Church influence in stopping any previous attempts which involve population control, hence the estimated illegal abortion figure doubling since 1994 and our population doubling since 1980.”

National Collegiate Championship

The first of series of the regional championship for North/Central Luzon is scheduled at Vigan City, Nov. 7 to 8, 2011. The winner of this competition will advance to the Sweet 16 Finals of the Champions League (PCCL) 2011 National Collegiate Championship.

For the first time, the regional championship games will be covered by PCCL media partner, ABS-CBN Television network, and will be aired at Studio 23 where the UAAP and NCAA games are shown.

The North/Central Luzon region has five active collegiate “mother leagues.” The champions of these leagues will compete in the regional games to earn a seat and be a member of the elite group of top sixteen collegiate teams nationwide.

Visit www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.com and join for free the ongoing survey to pick the teams that will advance to the Sweet 16 Finals from the regional championships and qualifying games. Those who will pick correctly the teams will receive gifts from Champions League (PCCL) sponsors. 

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Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.