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SLAUGHTERHOUSE, a food manufacturing plant, a company
that runs a popular fast-food chain, a farm corporation
and supermarket are among the eight top polluters of
Laguna de Bay.
The
companies that violated environmental laws received the
“shame award” from the Laguna Lake Development Authority
(LLDA) and were rated black or “very bad” in terms of
environmental compliance.
Twelve
companies, on the other hand, were noted for their
compliance that are “beyond standard” and were rated
“green.”
This
year’s top polluters of Laguna de Bay are Robina Farms,
located in San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal; Bimta
Slaughterhouse in Kamuning, Quezon City; Boulangerie
Francaise Inc. in Kalawaan, Pasig City; Chinatown’s
Bestfood on Banawe Street, barangay Don Manuel, Lourdes,
Quezon City; Joly Food Industries Inc. in San Mateo,
Rizal; JW Plaza of Readycon Trading and Construction
Corp. on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City; Le Mirage de
Malate of Builders 2000 Inc. and Puregold Price Club
Inc. on Commonwealth Avenue, in Old Balara, Quezon City.
Having
rated black under the color-coded system means that the
wastewater of the companies failed the average
biochemical oxygen demands, or the companies committed
one of four other serious environmental violations, such
as manipulation of effluent discharge, which include
dilution of discharge, installation and use of bypass or
direct discharge of wastewater and obstruction of
authorized inspection activities. Those with verified
pending legal cases involving violation of environmental
laws were also included on the “shame” list.
On top
of inclusion on the shame list, those rated black, such
as the eight top polluters for 2009, have been issued
cease-and-desist orders to force them to exert
significant effort to improve effluent quality.
Aside
from the eight top polluters, a total of 51 other
companies were rated blue or “bad” by the LLDA.
The LLDA
“honored” the companies as part of its shame campaign
under the Laguna de Bay Institutional Strengthening
Community Participation (Liscop) Project.
Rated
“green” or “very good” are the 12 companies, namely, A
and Beverage Phils Inc. in Pasig City; Isuzu Philippines
Corp. in Biñan, Laguna; Laguna Internatinal Industrial
Park Inc. in Biñan, Laguna; Light Industry and Science
Park of the Philippines in Cabuyao, Laguna; Nippon Paint
Phils. Inc. in Cabuyao, Laguna; One Magnificent Mile
Condo Corp. of Merdient Properties Inc. in Pasig City;
and Pepsi Cola Products Phils. Inc. in Muntinlupa City;
Phil. Carpet Manufacturing Corp. in Muntinlupa City;
Sta.
Lucia East Grand Mall in Cainta, Rizal; The Heritage
Hotel-Grand Plaza Hotel Corp. in Pasay City; TNC
Chemical Phils Inc. in Calamba City, Laguna; Toshiba
Information Equipment (Phils.), Inc., in Binan, Laguna;
Universal Robina (URC) Choco Inc. in Pasig City;
Universal Robina Corp. GD IV in Cabuyao, Laguna; and
Yutaka Manufaturing Philippines Inc. in Biñan, Laguna.
Thirty-nine other companies were rated blue or “good” in
terms of environmental compliance.
The LLDA
assesses the performance of a total of 780 registered
industrial, commercial, and other companies, including
104 fast food, restaurants and similar establishments
periodically.
The
ratings for actual compliance for the Third Cycle or
July 2007-June 2008 of its Public Disclosure Program
were based on assessment criteria, guidelines and
procedures approved by the multi-sectoral program
monitoring group, composed of representatives of local
governments, LLDA, Environment Management Bureau, the
private sector represented by Jollibee Food Corporation;
Fortune Tobaco, Manila Water Co. and Foremost Farms and
a nongovernment organization represented by Sagip Pasig
Movement. |
