Toledo residents to sue Gwen, DENR for pollution

Toledo City resident and some groups are planning to sue local government officials including Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for tolerating environmental violations allegedly done by Global Business Power Corporation.

In yesterday’s press conference, residents and stakeholders in Toledo City demanded authorities to stop tolerating environmental violations by Global Power particularly in the alleged indiscriminate dumping of coal ash in several barangays in the said city.

Otherwise, the groups will push through with the filing of charges against Global, Environmental Management Bureau-7 head Allan Arranguez, Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7 regional executive director Leonardo Sibaluca, Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo and also Governor Garcia.

The two groups are Members of the Alliance of Concerned Toledanons and Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement who are represented by environmental lawyers Benjamin Cabrido and Santiago Ortiz Jr.

The groups presented an investigative report by EMB last April pursuant to a letter complaint filed by the Kapunungan Alang sa Kauswagan sa Kasadpan-Sugbo over an allegation that the ash from Global, which are allegedly indiscriminately dumped in several areas, contained toxic components.

“Ambient air sampling test results showed exceedance to the standards set,” was the remarks of the said investigation.

They also showed statistics on the leading diseases of Toledo City residents, based on a consolidated report of the Department of Health, which was mostly infections of the respiratory system.

Cabrido said despite such findings no action was done by the parties concerned which showed that EMB, DENR, Mayor Zambo and even Governor Garcia are tolerating the said violations of the Ecological Solid Wasted Management Act, Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act of 2004.

“The continuing acts of Global or its agents and the omission or acquiescence of public officials mandated to implement environmental laws and regulations constitute civil, criminal and administrative offenses,” Cabrido said in the notice of intent to sue to all named respondents.

Global Power for its part said they had been implementing environmental safety precautions since they assumed operation and are even constantly meeting with the technical working group compose of DENR and other sectors for any update.  — Jessica Ann Pareja with Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP