BALANGA, BATAAN — Bataan Gov. Albert S. Garcia has been given an assurance by an Australian manufacturer of explosives that is based in Limay town that it upholds the highest and strictest standard in handling ammonium nitrate.

Garcia was given this assurance by officials of Australian company Orica, which manufactures explosives used for mining.

The governor had a meeting with the officials of Orica even as he also issued a directive to the provincial police to inspect the ports of Mariveles, Limay and Hermosa for the presence of shipment of raw materials for the manufacture of explosives.

“We don’t want any accidents similar to what happened in Lebanon to happen to us,” said Garcia, who was referring to the August 4 blast in Beirut which killed at least 170 people, wounded thousands caused more than P15 billion damage in the port city. A huge stash of ammonium nitrate was reported to have been the cause of the massive explosion.

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“We need to be sure that the factories are adhering to the strictest safety standards. The ports need to be inspected as there are raw materials for the manufacture of explosives being transported through these ports,” he added.

Orica site manager Garla Arcega said Orica has been operating in the Philippines for 51 years, and there has never been any untoward incident during because the safety of their employees was a huge priority to them. 

She said: “All our permits are up-to-date, our plant is inspected regularly, safety officers escort and monitor daily logs, and we have certifications from authorities to show for it.”

Safety manager Philip de Jesus said stringent safety protocols were in place, and were being observed in the plant from the delivery of raw materials to the transport of the finished products. 

He explained: “There is a coordination within our operations. Every time there is deliverly, we send radio message to all authorities of every town where we will pass. We make sure that there is no metal to metal contact that’s why we utilize a different kind of vehicle as a precaution. Incompatible explosives cannot be transported in the same vehicle. The detonators are always separated from the main explosives. And we are escorted by personnel from PNP, from the Explosives Division in Camp Crame and another from the provincial headquarters.” 

Joseph Mateo, supply chain manager, said the procedure was that they pick up the raw materials from Australia, China and South Korea transported via the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). And as soon as they arrive, they bring it to the plant in Limay, manufacture the explosives and within two days, they are already transporting the products with utmost care for delivery to foreign customers.

They said their customers include Indonesia, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam where they are building tunnels or train tracks. 

With Garcia in this meeting were Pilar Mayor Charlie Pizarro, his chief-of-staff Geoff Loyola and PNP regional director Jesus Rebua.