| Bacolod City, Philippines | Thursday, May 28, 2009 |
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out of Pulupandan
BY CARLA GOMEZ
Asian Alcohol Corp. may move out of Pulupandan if a settlement is not reached, Susan Benitez, AAC vice president for operations, said yesterday. Barangay captains and residents of Pulupandan have been protesting against alleged water pollution caused by AAC. Barangay captains Allan Jacildo of Zone 6 and Francisco Dorepes of Canjusa had earlier issued a cease-and-desist order to AAC/Tanduay Distillers Inc. to stop any activity that causes pollution and to seal its discharge pipe of effluents immediately. But Benitez said the firm is operating under Department of Environment and Natural Resources standards. Environment Regional Director Bienvenido Lipayon said the Pollution Adjudication Board had issued a CDO on AAC earlier but has since issued a temporary lifting order after the firm undertook corrective measures. AAC is currently complying with air and water pollution control standards set by the DENR, he said. The Environmental Management Board is monitoring ACC compliance with pollution standards, he said. A petition filed by AAC before the Bago Regional Trial Court seeking an injunction on blockades against the entry of big vehicles into the plant is pending before the court. The ACC currently employs 230 regular employees and 100 casual workers, most of whom are residents of Pulupandan, the court was told. The firm also generates a monthly payroll of more than P3 million, contributes P40,000 per month to community and social development projects, and pays annual taxes in the form of business licenses and real property taxes of P12 million annually to the Pulupandan town government, the complaint pointed out. It also purchases P500 million in molasses from the different sugar mills and planters in Negros Occidental and Oriental, the court was told. On the national level AAC pays P1 billion in specific, value added and income taxes, the complaint added.*CPG
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