Environment activists expose water polluter firm

Environment activists have exposed industry polluters that “kill” water bodies such as Laguna Lake near the national capital.
Greenpeace activists Thursday labelled the fence of TNC Chemicals Philippines with the words “water polluter” after they identified hazardous chemicals from a sampling they got in Laguna Lake.
Beau Baconguis, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said laboratory results confirm the presence of chromium, nickel, and copper above levels for normal, uncontaminated surface waters.
She said: “What the results show is that there are far too many chemicals that find their way into our water without our knowledge.
“Worse, these chemicals such as the ones we found in the samples from TNC discharge pipes, are not routinely tested by government.”
Baconguis said their group calls on TNC Chemicals Philippines and other industries to stop dumping toxic chemicals into water bodies and disclose chemicals they use in their production facilities.
In an interview, Baconguis said they have been calling for the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources to expand the chemicals list to include substances that have been proven to be toxic.
They also wanted the department to phase out these hazardous chemicals and establish a pollution disclosure system.
The pollution disclosure system compels industries to made public the chemicals they use in their products.
Baconguis said there are only five chemicals regulated under Republic Act 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990.
“As a long term solution, DENR must work towards a zero discharge policy for industries,” she said.
The labelling of TNC’s facility was part of the series of activities of the environment group highlighting industrial pollution.
Last week, the group launched the “Right-to-Know Water Patrol Expedition” to expose and investigate water polluters along Marikina River and Laguna Lake.
Laguna Lake, also called Laguna de Bay, is the largest lake in the Philippines and the third largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia (in terms of surface area), after Tonle Sap in Cambodia and Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Marikina Riverm a river in eastern Metro Manila, is a tributary of Pasig River with headwaters in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Rodriguez, Rizal.[PNA]