Residents propose closure of Pandan’s fiberglass boat firm

PANDAN, Antique - Some 125 residents of Barangay Patria, Pandan, Antique urged Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Roy Cimatu to close a fiberglass boat factory in the barangay.

In a nine- page signature campaign, the residents claimed they are opposing the operation of South Sea Craft Builder.

The residents said the factory is a few meters away from a school; children are at risk to pollutants.

They alleged that several residents already died due to respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis.

“The children were advised by their attending physicians to move away from the fiberglass factory,” the residents said.

Further, they claimed the fiberglass factory burns its wastes just along the shore.

WISEGEEK.COM Fiberglass boats are said to be lighter and take less energy to run than wooden boats. The Maritime Industry Authority has ordered the banning of wooden boats by 2018 in the country.