Toby Tiangco apologizes for ammonia leak at Navotas ice plant owned by mom's family

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco on Wednesday apologized for the ammonia leak incident in an ice plant owned by his family and vowed compensation for those who were affected.

An ice plant worker died while several others were injured after ammonia leaked at T.P. Marcelo Ice Plant and Cold Storage along Barangay North Bay Boulevard South on Wednesday afternoon.

“First of all, siyempre, kumpanya ‘yan ng magkakapatid ng mother ko. Kamag-anak ko ‘yan. Ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa nangyari doon," Tiangco said in Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras".

"Number two, assurance na kung anuman ‘yong pinsala sa kanila, they will be compensated,” he added.

Tiangco already ordered 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.

He added that residents would not be allowed to return to their houses without a go-ahead from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

“Siguraduhin natin na sila ay sumusunod doon sa mga safety protocol at hindi natin sila pagbubukasin hangga’t hindi po sila safe," Tiangco said.

"Hintayin po muna ‘yong signal ng ating CDRRMO office at ng ating Bureau of Fire bago sila (residents) bumalik, huwag muna silang bumalik doon,” he added.

Residents on Radial Road 10 have been evacuated due to the incident. The residents were brought to evacuation centers in the city.

This is the second ammonia leak incident in the city in a matter of weeks.

Tiangco said an ammonia leak also occurred in an ice plant on Lapu-Lapu Avenue recently. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News