DENR-EMB to summon parties in Davao City chemical spill

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Environmental Management Bureau will summon for questioning the parties involved in a chemical spill that forced the suspension of classes at a school in Davao City last week.

Among those summoned to a technical conference are the consignee and broker of the hazardous formic acid that spilled near Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Central Elementary School, MindaNews reported.

EMB toxic, chemical, hazardous waste management staff Romina Legal identified those invited to the meeting as Amado Dee, the owner of the chemicals; and broker Fely Morata.

They are to meet with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Business Bureau, and officials of Barangay 3-A to discuss the spill.

City Council environment committee chair Leonardo Avila III said the chemical spill raised questions about how the city dealt with hazardous materials and how they are transported.

Avila called for an inter-agency quick response team that would address such situations.

“I found out that the spill happened as early as 1 a.m., and the people there didn’t know who to call,” Avila said.

According to the MindaNews report, seven workers of the consignee were treated at the City Health Office for dizziness after they inhaled the chemical while cleaning the mess.

Investigation by the City Health Office showed the container truck carrying the plastic containers overturned because it was parked on a loose part of the road.

The EMB's initial findings also showed the spill happened around 1:45 a.m. of September 4, when the truck with 800 plastic containers overturned.

Only three of the 20-liter containers spilled their contents.

The cargo was picked up from the Sasa wharf September 3, at around 4 p.m. The cargo was imported from Xingang, China.

Driver Regildo Tigdo was instructed to transport the container van to Ponciano Reyes Street and to park in front of Matitot Eatery, across the Kapitan Tomas Elementary School. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News