Bulacan Gov, EMB padlocks Tire Pyrolysis Plant in Guiguinto

GUIGUINTO, Bulacan— The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 3 has padlocked a tire pyrolysis plant operated by the Bio-Eco Solution Technology Inc., in Bgy. Tabang here for numerous violations of environmental laws.

EMB environment technicians accompanied by EMB regional director Lormelyn E. Claudio and Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado served a cease and decease order against the owner of Bio-Eco Solution Technology Inc after it was found that its tire pyrolysis plant violated provisions of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System Law (PD1686), Clean Air Act (Ra 8749), Clean Water Act (RA 9275), Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) and Toxic, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Act (RA 6969).

Claudio said that their office had earlier served a “notice of violation” against John Ang, operations manager of Bio-Eco Solution Technology Inc., for conducting testing operations without securing first the necessary Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), Permit To Operate (POA) and Discharge Permit (DP) which is in violation of Section 4 of PD 1686 otherwise known as the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System as well as the implementing rules and regulations of the Philippine Clean Air Act and the Philippine Clean Water Act.

However, residents in the area complained that the plant continues to operate, emitting obnoxious odor that is allegedly posing health hazards to the neighborhood.

The EMB inspection team said that the plant's location is a mixed industrial, commercial and residential area.

Claudio, Alvarado and Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Rustico “Teddy” de Belen  witnessed the serving of the CDO which was received  by security guard Romeo Francisco in the presence of the company’s legal counsels.

Claudio and Alvarado later posted a notice to the public at steel gate of the plant, stating that the tire pyrolysis plant and its facilities is closed.

“We have explained to the owners that they supposedly should have stopped their testing operations but residents said that they continue to operate. Umuusok at ummamoy pa rin hanggang ngayon,” Claudio told local newsmen who covered the serving of the CDO.

Alvarado said the provincial government and DENR officials will discuss legal  measures to ensure that the plant will not operate again and will enforce a “24/7” monitoring on the padlocked facility.

“We will not allow them. We will pursue their closure until such time na magkaroon sila ng safe na technology na hindi nakakapinsala ng kapaligiran at kalusugan ng mga mamamayan,” Alvarado said.

Worried that residents and workers might have already suffered health ailments, Alvarado ordered the Provincial Health Office to check the health condition of residents and workers.

The governor also found out that most of the workers came from the same tire pyrolysis plant that the DENR and the provincial government have padlocked earlier in Bgy. Pulong Yantok, Angat.

“He told the workers that he will send a medical team to check their health conditions.

Becca Reyes, a resident living near the plant, told Alvarado and Claudio that many residents, mostly children are now suffering skin irritations, asthma and dizziness due to the toxic smokes being emitted by the tire burning facility.

It was learned that the company burns used tires and other materials made of rubber to produce bunker oil.

An EMB team that earlier inspected the plant reported that the process building is not yet fully enclosed and Carbon ash were noted scattered at the second floor and open area of the tire-burning facility.—EMIL G. GAMOS