Bondoc challenges San Simon officials: Close ‘polluting’plants along Quezon Road

Last year, various groups and officials opposed the construction of the monument which was located at the center island of the avenue, who cited the place was not befitting of a hero who sacrificed his life for democracy and freedom during the Japanese regime.

But yesterday, officials lauded the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 1st District Engineering Office and NLEx for providing the right location for the life size bronze monument covered by a certificate of turnover and acceptance signed by the DPWH, NLEx, City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago and Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. President Jess Nicdao.

Abad Santos’monument and marker was unveiled yesterday in time for the commemoration of the late chief justice’s 132nd birth anniversary.

SAN SIMON - Fourth District Representative Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc urged the local government of San Simon headed by Mayor Leonora Wong to close down all “polluting and defiant” industrial plants

located along Quezon Road.

This was amid the numerous complaints aired by residents of Barangay San Isidro against the industrial plants, as well as the alleged various environmental violations they committed as identified by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Bondoc cited the recent memorandum issued by the EMB which proved that three large smelting plants in the said area are operating without securing necessary documents such as permits to operate.

Aside from these, Bondoc also lamented the air pollution and solid waste management concerns complained by residents which allegedly causes various health problems, particularly to children.

“Malinaw naman nakikita natin sa solid waste, iyong mga dumi ng bakal nakatambak. Siyempre mapupunta iyan sa ground water na maiinom ng mga residente. Iyong usok makikita mo from the expressway napakakapal, itinatago pa sa gabi. Ang mga bata nagkakasakit na (We could clearly see those in solid waste that affect ground water and the thick smog that they hide at night time. Children are falling sick),” he stressed.

Bondoc also alleged that employment opportunities generated by the said industrial plants are very minimal and do not merely employ residents of this town, contrary to the claims of the plant owners and the local go ver n m en t .

With all the negative concerns raised, Bondoc said he is now wondering why the local government still allows the continuous operations of the “problematic” industrial plants in its jurisdiction.

“Ang dami ng violations pero ayaw pa rin nila ipasara. Kesyo titignan muna daw nila ang usok ng smoke stack, ang daming paligoy-ligoy. Ako nagdududa na ako dyan e (There are a lot of violations already but they are not being closed down. They said they would look at the smoke stack first. I am beginning to doubt these),” he asserted.

He challenged the local government here, particularly Wong, to hear out the concerns of her people and immediately close down the factories which have records of violations.

“Sana ang local government makinig naman at ipasara na ang mga iyan. Wala naman nagtatrabaho, puro problema nalang ang idinadala. Papasukin natin iyong mga pabrika na malinis at kapakipakinabang (I hope the local government closes them down since these just ring problems. Let us just allow clean and beneficial factories in),” he said.