By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Meat processing company CDO Foodsphere, Inc. has temporarily suspended operations at two of its facilities in its Malvar, Batangas plant in compliance with a Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) order to comply with the terms of its environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a statement, CDO Foodsphere said it promptly ordered the suspension of operations of its waste water treatment and rendering facilities in its Malvar plant to comply with an earlier DENR directive.
“We have temporarily suspended the operations of these two facilities while we are fast-tracking the improvements,’ it said.
The processed food company also said “the rest of the plant remains to operate normally and ready to serve our customers.”
“We strongly support the programs of our government and remain committed in keeping our environment clean and safe,” CDO Foodsphere said in the statement.
The DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 4A had issued a cease-and-desist order last September 26 against the food processing company, which operates a 60,000-square meter manufacturing plant in Malvar town.
The EMB-Calabarzon cited the “foul odor” emanating from CDO’s rendering area and wastewater treatment facility, which “causes environmental impacts and poses nuisance to public health and safety.”
In an order signed by EMB-Calabarzon Regional Director Noemi Paranada, CDO Malvar plant was found to have violated Presidential Decree 1586 or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System and DENR Administrative Order 2003-30, particularly Condition No. 13 of the ECC.
An ECC is a certification that the proponent has committed to undertake full responsibility over the specified measure which is necessary to comply with existing environmental regulations and operate within best environmental practices that are not currently covered by other existing environmental laws.
Under Condition No. 13 of its ECC, CDO agreed that when the implementation of its project causes adverse impacts to the environment or poses nuisance to public health and safety, it “shall immediately suspend its operation until such time that appropriate remedial measures are effected.”
Prior to the cease-and-desist order, a notice of violation was issued by the EMB and ordered CDO to conduct corrective measures pertaining to the foul odor as early as October 2018, which the company failed to do.
In August this year, EMB-Calabarzon received complaints from concerned citizens that the CDO plant continued to emit unpleasant smell during its operation in the afternoon until evening.
The complaints have been validated by a team sent by EMB-Calabarzon to conduct an investigation in the area.
“We have observed that unpleasant smell, foul odor originated from the rendering area and anaerobic pond,” Paranada said.
“This is alarming considering that CDO produces food products,” she pointed out, adding that the wastewater discharge coming from the plant goes to Alulod River then to Taal Lake.
The company was given 15 days from receipt of the order to file a motion for reconsideration with the EMB-Calabarzon. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)