Antipolo crematorium spews black smoke, scares residents

Some residents of Antipolo City were alarmed by thick black smoke that spewed nearly every day by a crematorium that burned bodies of COVID-19 patients.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, one netizen’s video of the smoke went viral among Antipolo residents.

“Akala ko kasi may nasusunog sa sobrang itim ng usok so gumilid ako sa kalye at tiningnan ko. Aba, chimney. On that side, I thought it was a factory or anything… pagsakay ko sasakyan at lumampas ako, no’ng tumapat ako, ay hindi pala factory,” alias “Jake” said.

“No’ng nag-post ako may mga nag-PM sa akin na tagaroon at sinabi na tuloy tuloy daw ‘yun at ‘yun din ang nagiging problema nila. Ramdam ko ‘yung hirap ng mga nando’n sa tabi,” he added.

Residents said that while the smoke had no odor, they noticed it coming out of a chimney almost daily.

“Kung sa akin, mali. Ang kaso, wala namang nagrereklamo. Alam na po ni mayor ‘yan… nirereklamo na ‘yan ng mga tao pero walang nangyari kaya ng tao parang wala na. Kasi magreklamo ka, baka ikaw pa pag-initan,” Editha Mayores said.

The Antipolo Environment and Waste Management Office conducted a surprise inspection of the crematorium of Heaven’s Gate Memorial Parks and Chapel and found violations of an ordinance on pollution.

“Nag-issue tayo ng notice of violation and then for the violation ng ordinance ng Antipolo City about the pollution. So kailangan i-comply nila and then we will check lahat lahat kung ano pang puwede nilang gawin para hindi na maulit ito,” office head Violeta Sabulao-Faiyaz said.

The crematorium management said the chimney emitted thick, black smoke because COVID-19 fatalities are cremated along with the blankets and pillows they used.

“‘Pag nagke-cremate po kami, hindi na po namin binubuksan ‘yung cadaver para po sa safety ng mga cremator po natin kaya po siguro meron pong usok na lumabas,” supervisor Jun Bumanglag said.

The Antipolo government slapped a 5,000-peso fine on the crematorium and warned that further violations may lead to closure.

“‘Yang usok na lumalabas ay hindi naman siya talaga masyadong hazard sa health ng tao kung ang temperature ay more than 1,000 degrees centigrade. So ‘pag mataaas ‘yun, hindi siya masyadong ano kasi naka-crack niya talaga ‘yung lahat ng mga dapat sunugin,” Sabulao-Faiyaz said.

“Tataasan po namin ‘yung chimney tapos napansin ko po kasi nawala ‘yung cover namin do’n sa ibabaw para po hindi buo ‘yung paglabas ng usok so lalagyan po namin ng cover para in case man na may lumabas pa pong usok, magi-spread siya,” Bumanglag vowed.—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News