FMC Marine Colloids sets $15-M expansion in RP

American seaweed processor FMC Marine Colloids Inc. is staying put in the Philippines despite being "harassed" by its competitors in the local seaweeds industry.

Timothy P. Eberle, director of operations of FMC BioPolymer, the parent company of FMC Marine Colloids said the company has no intention of relocating its operations in Cebu even after it has been ordered to start the clean-up of the Mactan Channel, Cebu’s main waterway and is in fact, investing $15 million in the next three years to expand its business.

Recently, the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) issued a decision on pollution charges made by local residents of Barangay Looc in Mandaue and the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines, holding FMC Marine Colloids responsible for the presence of black mounds at the Mactan Channel.

Eberle said despite its tiff with local residents and the PAB, the company consi-ders the Philippines as one of the best places to do business in. The company employs close to 100 locals and is one of the biggest carra-geenan producers in the world.

Eberle said the company has not violated any pollution laws and is now asking the PAB to clarify its decision.

In particular, FMC wants the PAB to clearly establish where the black mounds, said to contain high levels of potassium, came from. Eberle said the company’s water treatment plant does not use potassium in the processing of seaweeds in all of its 25 years of doing business in the country.

"We are opposing the decision, we cannot con-duct a clean up and we have filed for clarification because they have not established where the black mounds came from. We do not discharge potassium in the channel," said Eberle.

Earlier, the PAB ruled in favor of Bgy. Looc and SIAP, which opposed the construction of a submarine pipe through which FMC allegedly has been discharging untreated waste water in the Mactan Chan-nel.

The PAB’s decision read: "The existence of large black mounds on the seafloor as revealed by the sonar and the underwater investigation reports is something that cannot be ignored."

The PAB then directed FMC to clean up the channel and seal off all its submarine discharge pipes.

FMC managing director Tita Tomayao also refuted reports that water samples taken from an area where FMC’s sewage pipes are located contain high levels of water effluents destructive to marine life.

"They took the samples (PAB) when the sewerage equipment was not functioning," said Tomayao.

She admitted however, that pending their renewal of a license to operate in Bgy. Looc, the company is still using air and water treatment facilities without a permit from the Environment Management Bureau.