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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Radioactive hazards discovered in raided steel plant in Davao

Radioactive hazards discovered in raided steel plant in Davao

Published Aug 15, 2026 01:54 pm

At A Glance

  • The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) sad the raided steel manufacturing company has no permit to acquire, receive, possess, use, store, sell, transfer, import, or export nuclear or radioactive materials.
  • A total of 174 workers were rescued from the steel manufacturing plant during the Aug. 13 raid.
  • The DENR inspection likewise found that the company's Environmental Compliance Certificate did not declare or authorize the presence, handling, processing, storage, or use of radioactive materials within the facility
photo: PAOCC
photo: PAOCC
The raid in a steel manufacturing site in Davao City has exposed the presence of nuclear or radioactive materials that are hazardous not only to the environment but also to the people exposed to them.
Undersecretary Benjamin C. Acorda, Jr., head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), said the presence of the radioactive isotopes was confirmed in the finished products at the Davao Mighty Steel (DMS) Corporation as attested by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
He said PNRI’s further investigation revealed that the hazardous radioactive isotopes were also present furnace-related materials, residual black sand, industrial powders, dust, wastes, wastewater, and other production and stored materials in the steel factory located in Barangay Ilang, Bunawan, Davao City where 174 Filipinos were working.
The Filipino workers were rescued in the operation led by the National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday, Aug. 13.
“Technical examinations confirmed the presence of radioactive isotopes, including Uranium-238, Thorium-228, Thorium-232, and Radium-226, across different stages and areas of the company's operations,” the PAOCC statement read.
The raided steel manufacturing company has no permit to acquire, receive, possess, use, store, sell, transfer, import, or export nuclear or radioactive materials, according to the PNRI.
The DENR inspection likewise found that the company's Environmental Compliance Certificate did not declare or authorize the presence, handling, processing, storage, or use of radioactive materials within the facility,” PAOCC added.
The presence of radioactive materials was also monitored in the raided steel manufacturing companies in Misamis Oriental and in Pampanga.
Substandard?
Aside from radioactive materials concern, Acorda said separate product-standard testing also raised serious concerns over the company’s reinforcing steel already circulating in the market.
Of eight samples purchased from commercial hardware establishments across Mindanao, he said four, or 50 percent, failed the mandatory mass-variation requirement.
The substandard issue was also the major concern in the same two steel companies raided in Misamis Oriental and in Pampanga.
Case build-up
Acorda said the case was already referred by the NBI to the Department of Justice for appropriate proceedings.
The referred cases include violations of Republic Act No. 12305 or the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, Republic Act No. 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act; Presidential Decree No. 1586 or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System; and Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

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PAOCC NBI Uranium radioactive hazards
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