SBMA Closes 23 Toxic Sites to Investors
Published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer
(May 12, 2000)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE -- Officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority have closed to investors 23 sites earlier recommended for warned that the order was vaguely worded and did not guarantee a stop to cases of toxic poisoning.
In memorandum dated April 10,the SBMA Ecology Center ordered that the 23 sites be excluded from "further development or activity" by investors pending a study on how they could be rehabilitated.
The order was addressed to the SBMAs departments of locator registration, investment processing land and estate management, strategic planningand engineering.
The closure of the sites os not meant to "prejudice the national government's claim for whatever assistance the Unite States government may extend" since it was the US military which is being held responsible for these toxic materials, the memorandum added.
The closure, covering 44 sites, was made on the recommendation of the environmental firm Woodward Clyde.
The ecologycenter identified the proirity sites for cleanup as the Subic landfill, Osir basin landfill, NEX taxi compaound, Deltic yard and defense reutilization and marketing office.
Also on the priority list are the public works vehicle maintenance yard ship repair facility causeway, explosive ordnance disposal area at Camayan Point, Cubi hospital incinerator and the fire fighting training pit.
According to the memorandum, the study suggested further investigation and possible rehabilitation of the material departments open storage yard laundry and dry cleaning facility hazardous materials storage area, fleet mooring and sandblasting yard, trash and recycling facility the old Subic power station.
A study was also proposed for the lower Mau, hazardous waste facility pest control shop, transformer reconditioning shop, jet engine maintenance facility, Boton industrial area and the Cubi power station.
The memorandum, however, did not state the present use of the 23 sites or the activities there.
The people's Task Force for bases Clean-up described the closure policy as "vague". "Does this policy mean that only future developments are being suspened? If there are ongoing activities there prior to the policy, are these retained or also postponed?" said Myrla Baldonado, PTFBC national coordinator.
Tonette Orejas,
PDI Central Luzon Desk
