DAVAO CITY – A smog believed to come from the fire at the Lapanday box plant over the weekend covered parts of the downtown area, with officials here advising residents to stay inside.
The Bureau of Fire Protection responded to reports of a smog enveloping parts of the downtown area as early as 10 p.m., Sunday.
Central 911 also received several phone calls inquiring on the source of the smog.
Police told the public to avoid exposing themselves to the nighttime air to avoid inhaling possibly toxic substances.
Millions of pesos of burnt plastic and other flammable materials made their way to the air over the weekend after the New People’s Army burned facilities of the Lorenzo-owned Lapanday in barangays Mandug, Calinan, and Bunawan.
Initial reports from authorities said the smog was directly connected with the fire.
“These particles are harmful to health, everyone is advice to stay indoors as possible, wear mask, and drink a lot of water,” a public advisory said.
Meanwhile, Defense secretary Delfin Lorenza condemned the attacks perpetrated by the NPA on the manufacturing plants, calling the communist rebels as “anti-progress, anti-development, and anti-people”.
Lorenza said the attacks launched Saturday in three locations – Lapanday box plant in Mandug, Macondray Plastic Plant in Bunawan, and farm in Calinan – in this city “confirmed without a doubt their terrorist designation” and questioned their sincerity to work for peace.
Lorenzana also lambasted the communist rebels for the atrocities while the government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are negotiating for a long-lasting peace.
(With a report from Antonio L. Colina IV) (YAS D. OCAMPO)