Environment officials inspect Pasig firm for 'foul smell'

Authorities on Tuesday night inspected two plants of Golden Asian Oil International Inc. in Pasig City, following residents' complaints of foul smell in the area.

According to a report in GMA News' "24 Oras", the plants are suspected of disposing waste materials into the Pasig river after residents claimed they saw oil on the river. Rodelio Benito, Barangay Tanod of Barangay Bagong Ilog, said oil was seeping into the river.

"Langis tapos medyo konting bula, totally hindi na 'yung ganun talaga na nakikita mo sa ilog eh halos nasa tabi nalang ng pampang eh," he said.

Officials of the chemical plant said it has been a week since they stopped operations.

"Paano 'yun lalabas nang wala kaming operation. Mas maganda kung ang suspetsa lumabas kung nag-ooperate ang planta namin, ito ang nag-ooperate na planta," Engr. Romulo Nipa, plant manager of Golden Asia, said.

Officials of the company also obliged to an inspection by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

"In order to remove all their, what we call it, haka-haka that we are really throwing out pollutants, binuksan namin ang pintuan. Pinapasok namin sila," Nipa said.

Despite this, other barangay officials were still doubtful.

"Nagtataka kami eh. Nung pagpasok namin eh maraming truck. Ano yung laman ng truck, flammable nakalagay dun, ibig sabihin may paggawa sila," said Randy Remudo, Kagawad of Barangay Ilog.

"Kung wala silang ginagawang masama o yung pagtatapon ng nakasusulasok na amoy, bakit 'di agad sila nagpapasok?" he added.

CENRO personnel collected water samples from the Pasig river to examine if there are indeed pollutants coming from the plants. For its part, officials of Barangay Bagong Ilog said they plan not to release barangay permits for both plants while under investigation.

Golden Asian Oil International Inc. is the fourth largest exporter of coconut oil in Manila, according to the company's website. It also produces biodiesel from coconut oil. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas, BAP, GMA News