CONCRETE PLANT COMPLIED WITH DENR-RECOMMENDED MITIGATING MEASURES

November 30, 2022 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (November 28, 2022) — Triple A public works contractor Phesco Inc., operating a concrete batching plant in Sablan, Benguet, insists it has instituted mitigating measures averting earlier complaints of concrete spillages into the drainage system in sitio Monglo, barangay Bayabas, in the same town.

Silt traps were adequate and all perimeter ground of the mobile batching plant were sloped at the silt traps, which prevent water waste going out of the perimeter of the mobile batching plant, Phesco Inc. pointed out in response to the Cease-and-Desist Order (CDO) issued against the construction firm last November 11, 2022.

Through the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), the DENR issued the CDO for allegedly spilling concrete into the drainage system. Engr. Robert Bulan, operations manager of Phesco quoting his employer’s November 18, 2022 letter-response to the DENR CDO said, ‘all recommendations of DENR including adequate plant clean-up measures were all complied with’.

He however pointed out that such CDO did not consider Phesco Inc.’s compliance to recommended measures after Phesco were notified and underwent technical conference. Engr. Bulan continued, also quoting the same Phesco Inc. letter-response, raised how the government regulatory agency arrived at such order without due consideration to measures they instituted to correct imputed violations.

To make things worst EMB-CAR had likewise cited an earlier CDO by the Sablan municipal government on the batching plant which according to Phesco Inc., “was prematurely issued and lacked due process.” Phesco Inc. is the contractor of the P286-million Sablan circumferential road, which, according to Engr. Bulan, is nearing completion.

Artemio A. Dumlao