Daily Tribune
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported Thursday that it has started its crackdown on illegal recyclers of used lead acid batteries as directed by Malacanang, following reports of harmful and unregulated smelting of lead in several provinces.
DENR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Gilbert C. Gonzales said his office has already coordinated with the regional offices concerning operations of illegal lead smelters that are treating ULABs, while the Environmental Management Bureau has also directed its regional offices to conduct surveillance and monitoring in their respective areas of responsibility.
Gonzales said this was in response to the order of the Office of the President to the agency to look into the report of Federation of Philippine Industries Chairman Jesus L. Arranza that illegal lead smelters are now operating without the necessary government permits in Valenzuela, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao.
Gonzales added that ULAB recyclers and lead smelters need to secure the "necessary environmental permits such as an environmental compliance certificate, discharge permit, permit to operate, and registration certificate as a treatment, storage, and disposal facility."
With this, the EMB has vowed to immediately conduct:
Field verification of ULAB processing facilities to validate compliance, as well as saturation drives to identify individuals and establishments engaged in the illegal processing of ULABs; Enhanced information education campaign to encourage the public to report illegal ULAB processing activities; Intensified monitoring of junk shop operations engaged in the trade of ULABs in coordination with local government units; and exploration of potential collaboration with accredited ULAB treaters for the establishment of an incentives program for the general public who will be able to provide credible information that will lead to the successful identification of individuals and establishments engaging in illegal processing of ULABs.
Arranza commended lawyer Rodolfo John Robert C. Palattao IV, Undersecretary for Legal and Monitoring at the Office of the President, and the DENR's EMB and Field Operations for their immediate action in addressing the problem.
"We at the FPI are confident that with the directive from Malacanang and swift action from the DENR, we will start seeing in the coming days successful raids and closures of these illegal ULAB recyclers and lead smelters, as well as the prosecution of their operators. We will now coordinate with them so we can provide any assistance that they will necessary," Arranza said.
He disclosed that the FPI was provided with photos and videos showing how these illegal lead smelters are operating facilities that are shabby and ill-equipped to be able to handle the hazardous materials where they are deriving their secondary lead.
Arranza said these lead smelters do not have adequate anti-pollution systems and proper disposal facilities for the acids and other chemicals.
