Shipbreaking operations blamed for child’s death

Some residents of Barangay Punta Engaño trooped to Lapu-Lapu City Hall yesterday morning to report to Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan the alleged continued shipbreaking works on the MV Diamond Highway despite a cease and desist order issued in January.

The residents of the four affected sitios--Lupa, Kolo, Proper, and Jansen— claimed that the continued wrecking operations have caused them skin and respiratory illnesses. In fact, they attributed the death of a four-year-old child to the toxic fiber dust allegedly coming from the shipbreaking operations.

According to the residents, the child allegedly succumbed to pneumonia last Sunday. The residents believed the respiratory problem was caused by the fiber dust from the stranded ship.

The residents were accompanied by Josie Hayashi, barangay administrator of Punta Engaño, to the Lapu-Lapu City Hall to personally plead to the mayor to ensure that the ship wrecking company complies with the work stoppage order.

“Nakauban ko karon kay niduol sila nako magpakuyog gyud sila sa ako nga modulo mohangyo sa mayor, magpatabang sa mayor,” Hayashi said.

She added that the residents in the affected sitios are suffering from coughs and pneumonia.

Hayashi said the mayor had already issued a cease and desist order on January 31 to stop the activity in the area but the shipbreaking allegedly continued since most residents in the area still noticed the presence of fiber dust in the air.

Hayashi said she advised the residents to consult their health center but they opted to go to City Hall yesterday to see the mayor claiming that their situation calls for an emergency action.

“Naa puy nagtrabaho sa barko, mga upat man tingali to, gi-ubo ubo sila, unya nagkagid-kagid, naglisod og ginahawa, pneumonia,” she stated.

Genevive Goron, 40, one of the residents who went to city hall, said that the fiber dust has been causing them skin diseases.

“Mao gyud among gikuan kay among gipamati pirmiro sukad atong pagkahangin na. Mao gyud toy hinungdan gyud kay mura syag naay abog-abog bitaw, murag naa siyay mag itom-itom ba nga madala bitaw sa hangin, unya katol man,” Goron claimed.

She allegedly started to experience skin itchiness in January. Her husband and child also suffered from cough due to dust inhalation.

The Lapu-Lapu City public information office, in a statement on March 14, said the mayor has not lifted his cease and desist order until the ship management complies with all the recommendations given by the City Health Office (CHO).

Arnel Villaganas, operations manager, of MV Diamond Highway, denied the residents’ claim that their wrecking operations continue. He said they have already stopped the shipbreaking activity after receiving the order from the mayor.

He explained that what they are doing at present is clearing operation to remove the residue.

He said that they started the initial shipbreaking activity last year until the mayor stopped their operation last January. –