'FOR DELICADEZA'

LGU funds shouldn't be used in helping Navotas ammonia leak victims, Mayor Tiangco says

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco on Thursday said it would be the private firm, owned by his relatives, that should extend assistance to the affected families of the ammonia leak incident from an ice plant in the city.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Tiangco said funds from the local government should not be used in helping those affected, including those injured and hospitalized due to the incident.

"Hindi naman po sa ayaw ng lokal na pamahalaan na tumulong kaya lang itong pangyayaring ito ay posed by a private company na nagkataon ay pamilya ko. So pangit naman na gastusin ang pera ng gobyerno dahil ang pinsala ay nanggaling sa kumpanya na pag-aari ng pamilya ng nanay ko so they will have to pay for everything," Tiangco said.

"In this case, sabi ko singilin 'yung pribadong kumpanya para malinaw na directly o indirectly, wala po magiging pakinabang ang pamilya ng nanay ko dito. Very sensitive 'to eh. Hindi sa ayaw naming tumulong pero in this case, dapat po hindi gamitin 'yung pondo ng gobyerno. Sana maintindihan niyo po kasi delicadeza po 'yun eh," he added.

An ice plant worker died while more than 70 others were hurt after ammonia leaked from the T.P Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage on Wednesday afternoon.

Tiangco said he had directed the temporary closure of the cold storage facility. He said he would not allow the facility to reopen until it is declared safe by authorities.

"Hindi po sila magbubukas hanggang hindi naa-assure ng Bureau of Fire na safe 'yun," Tiangco said.

The mayor said the management of the ice plant has not yet issued a statement on the incident, but he vowed to be transparent regarding updates.

"Wala pa po, hindi ko pa nakakausap [yung mga may-ari]. But I have to disclose for the sake of transparency, dapat maging transparent po ako, 'yung plantang po 'yan ay pag-aari ng kumpanya ng magkakapatid ng mother ko. 'Yan po ay minana po nila doon sa aking lolo," Tiangco said.

Meanwhile, Tiangco assured the public that safety measures are being observed in the ice plant. A valve needs to be closed so that chemicals would not leak, he said.

"Hindi naman sa dinidipensahan ko ang planta, gusto ko lang pong ipaliwanag na wala pong planta ang gustong mag-leak ang ammonia o freon kasi 'yan po ang nagpapalamig sa cold storage, 'yan po ang nagpapalamig para makagawa ng yelo," Tiangco said.

Tiangco had already apologized over the incident. —KBK, GMA News