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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Mandaue folk seek order vs batching plant

Mandaue folk seek order vs batching plant

Published Feb 8, 2025 01:54 pm

CEBU CITY – A group of residents in Mandaue City, Cebu has appealed to officials to issue a cease-and-desist order against a cement batching plant.

MANDAUE PRESSCON.jpg

A GROUP of residents in Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City are asking the city government to halt the operations of a batching plant in their barangay. (Calvin D. Cordova)

The residents said the noise and dust created by the plant in Barangay Labogon have affected their health, especially children.

“We are asking Mayor Glen Bercede to act on our appeal. Our children have been experiencing asthma, we can’t even have a restful night because of the noise created by the plant,” said Ines Necesario.

Necesario is one of the complainants in the case filed against dismissed Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes who was accused of allowing the plant to operate without necessary permits.

It was the same case that cost Cortes his position after the Ombudsman found him guilty of the charge.

Cortes said that the filing of charges against him was politically motivated and vowed to bring the matter to the Supreme Court.

Residents denied Cortes’ claims that politics have something to do with the issue.

“We have been asking him since 2017 to look into our situation. We were ignored, that's why we decided to file a case. It’s unfair that we are being accused of politicizing when we are the ones who are suffering because of the continued operation of the batching plant,” said Necesario.

Necasario said at least 1,000 residents signed a petition opposing the construction of the plant.

“We showed to the mayor that even at night, thick smoke can be seen. We showed the mayor the stockpile that when it becomes windy, the dust goes straight to our houses,” said Necesario.

Necesario said Cortes promised them that he would act on their complaint but the plant continued to operate.

“For how many months, we kept on going back to the city hall, pleading to the mayor to help us solve the issue,” said Necesario.

Necesario said that they discovered through the Business Permit and Licensing Office that the plant did not have a business permit from 2021 to 2022.

She lamented despite the lack of permits, Cortes still did not act on their concern.

“It was the reason that we finally decided to file a case before the Ombudsman,” Necesario said.

The Ombudsman found Cortes guilty of grave misconduct for allowing the plant to operate without necessary permits last September.

“We are not answerable to him. His perpetual disqualification was his own doing. He favored the rich, he didn’t feel for the poor like us,” Necesario said.

Related Tags

Mayor Jonas Cortes Cebu province Mayor Glen Bercede Mandaue City
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