To the delight of clean air advocates, the Manila City Government has moved to improve the operation of the city’s public crematorium after it was found breaching some environmental rules.
“We find the remedial steps being undertaken by the Manila Health Department very encouraging,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.
“We trust that all environmental control measures will be satisfactorily fulfilled to allow the crematory to resume its service in a manner that will not pollute the surroundings and harm the public health,” she added.
The coalition recently received a copy of the city Health Department’s response to the Notice of Violations signed by Vizminda Osorio, Regional Director of the Environmental Management Bureau—National Capital Region last November 29, which said the facility did not comply with some provisions of the Clean Air Act’s Implementing Rules and Regulations and other environmental regulations.
The group earlier complained to the EMB-NCR about the crematory’s lack of Permit to Operate, which expired on May 13, 2014, and its air pollution emissions.
In his reply to the notice, Dr. Benjamin Yson, Acting City Health Officer of Manila, committed to secure a permit for the crematorium, as well as to register the facility as a Hazardous Waste Generator.
The health department likewise confirmed that “corresponding fees and penalties shall be paid” with a request for reduced amounts, since the crematorium provides free cremation for the remains of indigent families.
To lower the crematorium stack emission to “acceptable level,” the city pledged to implement mitigating measures, including replacing or installing pollution control devices. The crematorium smoke stack’s height “shall be made higher and the cleaning device shall be installed accordingly,” it added.
The MHD designated Engr. Bryan Baltazar as Pollution Control Officer for the crematorium located at the entrance of the Manila North Cemetery. Among other duties, he shall be responsible for the submission of the crematory’s periodic Self-Monitoring Reports to EMB-NCR.
The Manila City Government shall also open bidding “for a third party to conduct regular laboratory tests” to determine the crematorium’s compliance with emission standards.
“We also hope that the MHD will voluntarily create a pollution monitoring committee comprising of various stakeholders, including representatives from the adjacent barangays, nearby institutions and other concerned groups,” Lucero said.
“This will surely foster meaningful citizens’ participation in monitoring the facility’s compliance with relevant environmental regulations, and buoy up public confidence in its operation.” she added.
According to the health department, 770 cadavers were cremated at the facility in 2015. Over the past three quarters of 2016, 573 remains were cremated there.