Cement firm officials: We are environment-friendly

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of Taiheiyo Cement Philippines have assured their operation is not a threat to the environment and the people as their company has been implementing measures to protect those around them.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday conducted an inspection of the firm as part of its monitoring of the problem on global warming and climate change.

Environment officers and members of the media were briefed by Taheiyo’s officials composed of Mr. Gines Boltron, head for community development office; Mr. Delfin Campo, division manager for operations; Ms. Emylita Ortega, division manager for human resources and administration; Mr. Takashaki Sugiyama, technical adviser and director; Mrs. Esther Cola, senior manager for human resources and administration; Mr. Katsuo Ono, senior vice president for production and plant manager; Mr. Takahiko Imachi, SVP for Finance and Administration.

Mr. Nilo Yap, senior manager for environment and safety department, strongly said that their company is environmental friendly because they aim to have a better community and their company believes that a business must be in harmony with nature and works for the economic betterment of the Philippines.

He stressed that they always think that the community is part of the success of their company.

According to him, they have planted almost 5,000 trees and they have been always cleaning the creek and the sea.

Yap explained that they have been planting trees since their company started operating to help reduce the air pollution. He added that the air that is being released from their plant is also clean as it is being sterilized before it is released.

As to the wastes their plant generates, he said they strained them before releasing them to the canal. To do this, he said they have this silt trap to catch the sediments.

Yap said they have been implementing a five-year social development program which focuses on education, giving livelihood program and support, health support, scholarship program and feeding program for the children who suffer malnutrition and they are also planning to have a medical mission. — Jen-Jen Raymundo, Palompon Institute of Technology intern/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)