BAGUIO Medical Center (BMC) denied the failure to ensure proper waste handling and disposal resulting to the deposition of excavated soil materials in Tuba, Benguet.
"Considering the MOA (memorandum of agreement) was entered into in good faith, BMC relied that the contractor will properly work on the excavation and other projects," BMC medical director Jennifer Balatian said during the August 1 technical conference set by the Environment Management Bureau-Cordillera Administrative Region (EMB-CAR).
On June 20, the BMC engaged the services of Onofre Calam-ang and Isio Aronza Jr. as site development contractors to excavate, haul and dump excavated earth materials, leveling of excavated area for the proposed parking, layering of base course with riprapping as well as sand and gravel compaction and acquisition of all necessary government permit.
EMB-CAR regional director Reynaldo Digamo said there is no problem when it comes to the excavation project but the only problem is that the excavated materials is contaminated with hospital waste.
"The responsibility is pinned to BMC because you did not specifically mention in the contract that the contractors are responsible in the proper disposal of the hospital waste in the course of the excavation," Digamo added.
Balatian clarified the hospital has not been negligent in terms of reminding the people to get proper permit and what the soil contains.
Notices of violations were issued against the BMC of PD 1586, Toxic, Hazardous and Nuclear Act of 1990 (RA 6969), Clean Water Act (RA 9275) and violation in the Environmental Compliance Certificate (PD 1586) against the hospital.
Calam-ang, lot owners Prudencio Laurian and Myrna Mallari received notices of violations of RA 6969 and RA 9275 issued by the environmental bureau.
Hospital waste including dextrose sets, syringes of different sizes, empty fluid packs, vials and semitransparent rubber tubes and other medical operation waste were retrieved.
The regional director also revoked the accreditation of BMC Pollution Control Officer Engineer Benjamin Balatian.
Water samplings taken on July 20 from two sampling stations along Bayacsan creek were also obtained, results of the laboratory analysis shows samplings failed. Class B freshwater concentration for total suspended solids result of 302 which exceeded.
The creek is a tributary of the Pugo River which flows down to La Union.
