DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- The Environmental Management Bureau in Southern Mindanao threatened to slap sanctions on at least seven companies and four individuals engaged in the transport, storage, and disposal of waste oil here for failing to secure the necessary permits.
In a report, a copy of which was furnished the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) on Thursday, the EMB identified the companies and individuals as Magno Enterprises; Wave Industrial Sales; San Pedro Integrated Services Bunker Oil Recycling Plant; Oil Trading; Golden Dragon International Terminals, Inc. (GDTI); MachOne Flying V; Gulf Oil Petroleum Products, Edwin Escoton; Julio Tanagon; Boy Alce; and Rio Deliarte.
The EMB said that on May 7, local group Bantay Bayan Foundation sent a complaint asking the agency to investigate the companies as their operations threatened the environment.
The EMB said a marathon investigation from May 22 to 26 found that the companies violated environmental protection policies, especially on the need to secure permits.
"Aside from expired permits and non-registration, some of the said firms failed to put in place the required safety provisions while operating their businesses," the EMB report said.
But while it threatened the companies with sanctions, the EMB gave them 15 days to comply with the requirements, said Councilor Leonardo Avila, chairman of the city council's committee on environment.
Avila said he attended a two-day technical conference with the concerned firms, together with Bantay Bayan, from July 6 to 7, during which, representatives of the oil disposal companies admitted their violations and signed documents signifying their commitment to meet the 15-day grace period.
Avila said after the 15-day grace period, the EMB would again summon the companies to another technical conference to evaluate their position papers.
"Heavy penalties will be imposed on the said firms if they continue to fail in correcting their violations, while recommendations for closure will be endorsed to the Pollution Adjudication Board in Manila for the notorious ones," Avila said.
