If after 45 days and still no permits: Ink firm faces P10 thousand daily fine

CEBU, Philippines — The Environmental Management Bureau-7 has given GBox Corrugated Packaging 45 days to comply with all the necessary permits and requirements set by the bureau, after which they will face a fine for every day they are in violation.

This was the outcome of the technical conference held last Thursday at the EMB-7 office attended by the management of GBox Corrugated Packaging and bureau officials.

The bureau said in a statement that the establishment was directed to construct a wastewater treatment facility and apply for a corresponding Discharge Permit from EMB-7.

They were also told to construct a Material Recovery Facility with proper segregation, containers, and labelling.

They are also obliged to register as a Hazardous Waste Generator and acquire the services of an EMB-accredited treatment, storage, and disposal facility to take care of their stored hazardous ink waste.

"Failure to comply with the foregoing commitments will compel the Bureau to impose a penalty amounting to P10,000.00 per every day of violation," the statement read.

EMB-7 Director William Cuñado has likewise reminded all establishments to always follow the mandates of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to avoid problems in the future.

 “Let us all be reminded that balance in economic growth and environmental management should always be prioritized so as to avoid problems in your operations,” said Cuñado.

The bureau said they will also continuously monitor the operations of the said establishment.

GBox Corrugated Packaging was reportedly involved in the dumping of a red liquid directly into the sea in Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City. Following investigation, EMB-7 said that the liquid was wastewater generated from the firm's inking and labelling area.

It added that the firm’s owner claimed the wastewater was actually mostly rainwater and since the establishment doesn’t have a drainage system, rainwater accumulates in their premises. Thus, they had to get rid of it.

The wastewater was allegedly contaminated with water-based waste ink composed of organic pigments, acrylic resins, alcohol, water, and additives.

Position Papers

Meanwhile, the bureau has also received the position papers of Chong Hua Medical Hospital Mandaue and the Davao City Environmental Care Inc. (DCECI), the parties being held responsible in the dumping of medical waste found floating off Mactan early this month.

EMB-7 legal assistant Rena Joy Fariola said they received the position papers, which contain the explanation of both parties regarding the incident, yesterday after both parties were given 15 days to provide them.

The bureau refused to disclose the contents of the papers saying they are documents from private firms, hence not public documents.

EMB-7’s investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and they have yet to make a decision on the next action to take after reviewing the papers.

Both firms were initially found guilty by EMB-7 for violating the provisions of Republic Act 6969, or the Toxic Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Management Act. Chong Hua Hospital Mandaue and DCECI were both recently fined by the bureau P110,000 and P250,000, respectively.

Both firms were then given 15 days to provide a position paper to explain why no administrative criminal charges shall be filed against them for violating environmental laws.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources assured the public that despite the hospital waste found, fish caught in the area is still safe to eat.

Alma Saavedra of BFAR-7 said that unless there is a fish kill, fish will remain safe to eat. She explained that the area where the trash was found is far from where fish is caught. — John Kendrick Ceciban, USJ-R intern, BRP, (FREEMAN)