Residents rally vs. Wagas

CEBU, Philippines - Some 100 residents of barangay Tamiao, Compostela town staged a protest rally in front of the municipal hall asking Mayor Ritchie Wagas to stop the operation of a tire recycling firm.

Nerry Marievelez, one of the residents of Tamiao, said the rally was intended to pressure Wagas.

Two beach resort owners said the tire plant has been operating since 2008, and has been emitting black smoke and foul odor which causes dizziness, headaches, and even triggering pneumonia attacks among children and adults alike.

The residents fear the tire plant would never be closed.

The protesters are accusing the mayor of favouring the tire plant considering that he issued the firm a Mayor’s Permit even though the firm had not acquired an Environmental Certificate Clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Two weeks ago, Vice Mayor Joel Quino, Councilor Tessa Paradiang-Cang, and some members of the council went to the DENR for a technical conference with the management of Union Tyre Philippines with the tire firm agreeing to temporarily stop the operation pending the investigation being conducted by the DENR.

The agreement was signed by Luzminda Taboada, the co-owner of the firm, and witnessed by the firm’s consultant and designated pollution control officer Alan Dinampo, Quino and Cang.

But lawyer Joseph Baduel, the legal counsel for the Union Tyre Philippines, sought for a one-month extension from DENR regional director Alan Aranguez so that the firm can finish the processing of existing stocks.

Baduel, in his letter to DENR, pointed out that his client is seeking a one-month extension in order to avoid serious losses and economic displacement of workers.

The firm employs 40 workers.

Fed up on the inaction of Mayor Wagas, the affected residents decided to stage a rally urging the mayor to revoke the business permit he issued to the tire plant.

Mayor Wagas did not face the protester but instead he sent his father, Balodoy, to face them.

Balodoy told the protesters to send the mayor a letter of complaint instead of protesting.

“Dugay na gyud mi og sige og reklamo ni mayor. Taga-anhi namo sa munisipyo, wala ang mayor. Unya syaro naman pud wala gyud nakabaho ang mayor sa baho anang planta?” one of the protesters said. 

Quino and Cang, in a separate interview with The Freeman, said that they have no hand in the rally against the mayor.

“Dili naman gud nato mapugngan ang sentimento sa mga tawo kay dugay naman gyud sila nag-antos sa kabaho sa maong lugar tungod anang tire plant sa Tamiao. Ambot lang gyud kung ngano dili man makasira ang mayor diha,” Cang said.

If the mayor thinks about the health and lives of his constituents, the mayor should order for the closure of the firm, Cang said.

The Union Tyre Philippines has been the subject of complaints.

The residents also said excessive dust would usually come out of the plant at night time while the obnoxious odor is present throughout the day.

Union Tyre applied for an ECC last April 22, 2009. The application until now remains stagnant “due to non-compliance of certain substantial documents.”   (FREEMAN NEWS)