By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Sugar milling company Central Azucarera de la Carlota, Inc. (CACI), a subsidiary of Roxas Holdings, Inc., insists there is no pollution at the Najalin Dam, which is located near their plant.

In a statement, CACI Vice President and General Manager Esteban Coscolluela said, based on inspections conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), there were no adverse findings at the Najalin Dam, which is located in Barangay Nagasi, La Carlota City.

He added, DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Metodio Turbella and EMB-Region VI head Desiderio Figueroa conducted a surprise inspection of the plant last month, where they were granted a certificate recognizing “safe re-use of wastewater for irrigation.”

Coscolluela also noted, water samples were taken to check for oil and grease.

“[DENR-EMB Region VI Engineer Roniel Carbajosa] saw that the water samples taken that day were free of traces of oil and grease,” he stated.

Meanwhile, an inspection of CACI’s sister company, Roxol Bioenergy Corporation, was also conducted where, according to the CACI general manager, “The team inspected the area and just asked us to provide them with our wastewater management program.”/DGB, WDJ