Permit of Pasig plant revoked

Pasig City Mayor Vicente Eusebio revoked yesterday the business permit of the LMG Chemicals Corp., which was identified as the source of gas fumes that downed 36 pupils of an elementary school in two barangays last Sept. 9.

"It is a total closure, I will not sacrifice the health and lives of the students and my constituents for the taxes and the business the plant brings to the city coffers," he said.

City Hall records showed that LMG pays some P800,000 in annual taxes to the local government. The plant employs 154 people.

Eusebio said the city government will no longer sit down with LMG officials for any consideration to re-open the plant, which was shut down twice last Thursday after a malfunction.

The city mayor said it was the second time that the LMG Chemicals committed such infraction.

Last Aug. 19, 2001, the said firm emitted foul odor in Barangays San Joaquin and Kalawaan, killing an elderly man and downing scores of others.

After the first incident, Eusebio noted that the LMG officials promised to improve its anti-pollution devices to prevent the occurrence of a similar gas leak.

Eusebio also concurred with the recommendation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to permanently shut down the factory, which produces sulfur dioxide, an ingredient in making soap and batteries.

In his letter to LMG general manager Jose Fernandez, Eusebio pointed out that City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) findings showed that the plant’s sulfur dioxide emission has exceeded the standards set by the Clean Air Act of 1999.

"Sulfur dioxide emission monitoring from sulfuric acid pump last Sept. 9, 2004 exceeded the limit for three hours," the mayor noted.

LMG pollution control officers admitted that they had replaced the acid circulating pump early that day.

Strong winds fanned the foul odor to the nearby San Joaquin Elementary School. At least 36 students were rushed to a clinic and a nearby hospital due to difficulty in breathing, dizziness and itchy throats.

LMG is one of the companies housed inside the Chemphil compound. The two others are the Kemwater Phil. Corp. and the Chemphil Albright and Wilson Corp.

Meanwhile, CENRO chief Raquez Naciongayo said they will also ask LMG management to compensate the students and residents affected by the Sept. 9 incident.

She said LMG has a P20 million reserve funds for compensation purpose.