Residents Petition for Closure of Alcohol Plant

Something stinks in several villages in Pangasinan, literally and figuratively.  Residents blame the alcohol plant owned by Alko Distillers Inc. which they say dumps waste that emits foul odor and produces fumes that corrode their iron roofs.

BY JONG DE LA CRUZ
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

Manaoag, Pangasinan — Foul odor coming from chemical wastes dumped by an alcohol plant owned by Alko Distillers plague residents of Brgys. (villages) Baritao, Pantal, and San Ramon in Pangasinan. a province 175 kms. north of Manila, 24 hours a day. 

Alko Distillers Inc., which started operations in 1999, has been petitioned thrice by residents from affected villages. The third petition, filed in September, has prompted local officials to act after it realized that wastes from the plant are “hazardous, damaging to the environment, and affect the health and quality of life of the residents”.

The plant has resumed operations Dec. 4 after serving a two-week suspension order from the local government.  But nothing has been done about the foul odor. 

Hazardous fumes

The plant, which was a former sugar plantation, the Hind Sugar Corp., produces sugar and ethyl alcohol as its by-product. In 1999, Alko Distillers took over the plant and concentrated on producing ethyl alcohol. Thus began the “rank odor” plaguing the residents. 

Residents believe that the emissions from the plant cause ailments such as asthma, nausea, headache, sinusitis and cough. Virgie Alejo, 48, a resident, relates that these ailments afflict mostly young people.

“People are intoxicated,” she added, “Aside from the foul odor coming from an open pit where the factory dumps it waste, the river, which runs through our farmlands, is likewise contaminated.”

Arsenio Angelito, 64, suspects the fumes must have caused the corrosion of their roofs. The local government Committee on Land Use declared that acid rain caused by the emissions is causing their roofs to rust.

Angelito, who used to be a payroll officer in the former sugar plantation, said that the odor coming from the plant has worsened since Alko Distillers took over. He recalls that the former sugar plantation used to give off a “sour, vinegar-like odor”.  But according to him, it was not intoxicating, not like the odor coming from the current alcohol plant”.

Maribel Balagbag, 40, said the odor is worse at night causing discomfort during their sleep.  She also said her family suffered asthma attacks due to the smell.

In Brgy. Pantal, Elvie Guilera, 29, transferred her three children to Cavite to protect them from ailments caused by the plant.

Meanwhile, vegetable cultivation in the area was also affected. Joel Waing, 52, a long-time farmer in the area, noted a reduction in his harvests. The land he tills is several meters away from the waste pits.

Growing resistance

A growing number of residents and institutions in the area had signed and supported the petition asking for the plant’s closure. 

Dr. Tony de Guzman, General Practitioner at the Speaker Eugenio Perez Memorial Hospital, revealed that residents suffering from respiratory illnesses hardly recover due to constant exposure to the odor. He said nebulization became a regular treatment because a lot of the residents developed asthma. “Asthma as an allergy is worsened by foul smells like the one emitting from the plant” he added.

Two church groups also supported the petitioners. Pastor Romeo Ramos of Manaoag Better Baptist Church acquired asthma and sinusitis.  He urged his churchgoers, who are also petitioners, to pursue the demand for the closure of the plant.

Complaining residents felt that the suspension of operations of the plant was insufficient. “This has been our third petition and we feel that it is about time that the local government orders the closure of the plant”.

Awaiting Results

“We are waiting for the results of the assessment conducted by the Municipal Council on the plant’s new anti-pollution measures,” said Mayor Napoleon Sales. He added that the petition for the permanent closure of the plant will be considered if the foul odor remains.

In a telephone interview, Alfred Baligod, Assistant Manager for Finance and Administration of Alko Distilleries said, “We have complied with the orders of the local government.  We have improved our waste disposal system through cleaning our digester.” The digester traps emitted gases which are later processed into fuel.

Baligod added that they submit quarterly reports to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

Baligod also declared that the company has agreed to provide medical assistance to sick residents who can present valid medical certificates.  He said they sought the cooperation of the village council in Brgy. Baritao to facilitate the claims. Baligod also said that they had employed local people to work at the plant.

Residents fear that the continued operations of the plant will result in further damages to their health and environment.  The petitioners plan to seek the help of national agencies if the local government will not order the closure of the plant. Northern Dispatch/Posted by Bulatlat

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