Reports of radioactive materials detected at a steel plant in Magalang, Pampanga have sparked concern among residents. INQUIRER FILES
MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Reports of radioactive materials detected at a steel plant in Pampanga’s Magalang town have sparked concern among residents.
Media reports and social media posts claim that authorities have discovered raw materials, by-products, and waste containing thorium isotopes at the Chuangxing Steel Incorporated plant in Barangay Navaling during a raid on July 19.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and the police served a court-issued search warrant on the company for alleged violations of environmental and consumer protection laws.
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READ: NBI raids Pampanga steel plant, arrests 3 Chinese, 1 Filipino
On Tuesday, Magalang Mayor Maria Lourdes Lacson stated on her personal and municipal government Facebook pages that authorities have yet to confirm the presence of radioactive substances at the facility.
“In light of the recent statements circulating on social media regarding alleged ‘confirmed nuclear waste’ in Barangay Navaling, I wish to clarify that, as of this date, the Municipality of Magalang has not yet received the Final Search Warrant Implementation Report, nor the official laboratory findings from the competent national government agencies,” she said.
Lacson stressed that any determination regarding radioactive materials and their potential health risks must be based on scientific examination and official findings.
“I fully understand the concerns and anxieties of our constituents. Rest assured that the Local Government of Magalang is in constant coordination with the concerned authorities and will formally request all pertinent documents and findings related to the (NBI-led) operation,” she said.
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The mayor appealed to residents to exercise prudence and refrain from sharing what she described as unverified information that could unnecessarily cause fear and alarm. She urged the public to wait for conclusive findings grounded in facts and science.
As of Tuesday, the PAOCC has not replied to the Inquirer’s request for information regarding the alleged radioactive-bearing materials.
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Lawyer Ryan Solano, spokesperson for Chuangxing Steel Incorporated, has denied that the company violated any laws. He said the steel plant was operating legally and had been issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Solano also said the company is confident it will eventually be cleared of the allegations.
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Three Chinese executives and one Filipino company officer have been charged with alleged violations of the Consumer Act of the Philippines, environmental laws, and the Philippine National Nuclear Safety Act./coa