Bishop: Imitate Dealco’s move vs. water pollution

Edpam committed to saving environment

By Joey Pavia

ANGELES CITY – “It’s a good first move against pollution.”
Thus said Pampanga Auxilliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David after leading a mass for the inauguration of the P2 million wastewater treatment facility at the Angeles City slaughterhouse in Barangay Pampang here recently.
David said the operator of the slaughterhouse, Dealco Farms Inc. (DFI), had applied “corporate social responsibility” in using the facility designed to stop the release of harmful waste at the Sapang Balen Creek. The auxillary bishop earlier cast a curse on polluters of the creek affecting the city and nearby towns.
David urged other private firms to follow suit and help the government apply the law on the protection of the environment.
“As I have said, the private plays vital role in ensuring the success of the government,” said David.
Mayor Edgardo “Ed” Pamintuan, for his part, said his administration had been
committed in the protection of the environment. He added that they “need the
support and cooperation of the public in the battle against pollution.”
Pamintuan said they had started to aggressively inform the public about the
importance of protecting the environment.
“Our administration is new and therefore we must first educate the people,”
said Pamintuan, who attended the inauguration with Vice Mayor Vicky
Vega-Cabigting and Councilors Edu Pamintuan and Alex Indiongco.
Joyce Alcoreza, DFI executive vice president, described the government of
Pamintuan “as very cooperative.” She added that they “remain committed like
Pamintuan in the protection of the environment.”
Alcoreza said Dealco had operated the facility “only this time because the
slaughterhouse had been severely dilapidated when they arrived.” Dealco had
won the rights to operate the city’s slaughterhouse in December 2007 for 25
years.
“We really intended to operate with the anti-pollution facility but we have
to do the other things before that,” said Alcoreza, whose family-owned firm
also operates the slaughterhouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
David expressed gratitude Dealco for the waste water facility.
“But we will not put our guards down and see to it that Dealco operates the
slaughterhouse using the facility,” said David.