Today True Green Energy Group and its Directors and its subsidiary,
Spectrum Blue Steel Corporation (SBSC) were notified that the City of
San Fernando over the weekend late in the evening after normal
scheduled working hours had been delivering threatening and
dangerous medical waste to the company’s MRF Plant in Barangay Lara,
in the City of San Fernando.
Fueling the fears of these ominous concerns this waste has a hypothetical risk for transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other agents associated with blood borne diseases such as the acquired Immunodeficiency SYNDROM (AIDS).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), categorizes various diseases in levels of biohazard, Level 1 being minimum risk and Level 4 being extreme risk. Laboratories and other facilities are categorized as BSL (Biosafety Level) 1-4 or as P1 through P4 for short (Pathogen or Protection Level).
▪ Biohazard Level 1: Bacteria and viruses including Bacillus subtilis, canine hepatitis, Escherichia coli, varicella (chicken pox), as well as some cell cultures and non-infectious bacteria. At this level precautions against the bio hazardous materials in question are minimal, most likely involving gloves and some sort of facial protection.
▪ Biohazard Level 2: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV.
Fueling the fears of these ominous concerns this waste has a hypothetical risk for transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other agents associated with blood borne diseases such as the acquired Immunodeficiency SYNDROM (AIDS).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), categorizes various diseases in levels of biohazard, Level 1 being minimum risk and Level 4 being extreme risk. Laboratories and other facilities are categorized as BSL (Biosafety Level) 1-4 or as P1 through P4 for short (Pathogen or Protection Level).
▪ Biohazard Level 1: Bacteria and viruses including Bacillus subtilis, canine hepatitis, Escherichia coli, varicella (chicken pox), as well as some cell cultures and non-infectious bacteria. At this level precautions against the bio hazardous materials in question are minimal, most likely involving gloves and some sort of facial protection.
▪ Biohazard Level 2: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV.
▪ Biohazard Level 3: Bacteria and viruses that can cause severe to
fatal disease in humans, but for which vaccines or other
treatments exist, such as anthrax, West Nile virus, Venezuelan
equine encephalitis, SARS virus, tuberculosis, typhus, Rift Valley
fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, yellow fever, and malaria.
Among parasites Plasmodium falciparum, which causes Malaria,
and Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes trypanosomiasis, also come
under this level.
▪ Biohazard Level 4: Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic diseases. Variola virus (smallpox).
▪ Biohazard Level 4: Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic diseases. Variola virus (smallpox).
With in 1 hour after being notified that the above-mentioned Biohazards
could be in the several tons of medical waste already illegally delivered
to the site. The C.E.O, for TGEG Mr. Renato Lee III, notified the
Management Committee which included TGEG Canada President John
Lamb, Chief Legal Counsel Renato Paraiso, Chief Adviser to the
Chairman Larry Rey, Director for External Affairs Renato Lee Jr. and
SBSC President Edwin De Jesus to discuss the company’s plan of action
and the repercussions brought about by the City’s actions and this
emergency.
Once the group was convened the founder and chairman of the board
Mr. Ronald Flynn was teleconferenced in VIA Thailand. With in 30
minutes of hearing about what had happened and the dangerous effects
it could have on the employees and the surrounding residence he gave
an executive order to the board of directors and management committe to close the gates and call the DOH Department Of Health and the DENR- Department Of Environment and Natural Resources.
Mr. De Jesus reported that since Thursday of last week, the City has
been diverting hazardous hospital wastes amounting to approximately 3
tons into the Company’s facility.
The Chief Legal Counsel explained that the presence of these hazardous medical wastes pose a direct threat to the safety and well being of our company’s employees which is a direct violation of basic labor laws and safety regulations with regards to providing a safe working environment, as well as violations of environmental laws particularly R.A. 6969 with respect to the proper disposal of hazardous hospital waste, hence the company is left with no other option but to suspend its operation and quarantine our plant’s premises and inform the concerned government regulatory agencies for their improper action and disposition on the matter, less it be found in flagrant violation of the aforementioned statutes.
The Management Committee bilaterally endorsed the Chief Legal Counsel’s proposal of shutting down the plant until further notice and after receipt of proper clearances from the respective government agencies. Also a written explanation is expected from the City officials on what actually transpired and what measures will be taken to ensure that this will not happen again. According to Mr. Lee, “As a matter of principle, we cannot continue operating our plant on the basis of monetary considerations alone while risking the safety of our employees.” Furthermore he was quoted as saying, “Money, we will still be earned but my responsibility to my employees will always come first. Nothing comes above this.”
The Chief Legal Counsel explained that the presence of these hazardous medical wastes pose a direct threat to the safety and well being of our company’s employees which is a direct violation of basic labor laws and safety regulations with regards to providing a safe working environment, as well as violations of environmental laws particularly R.A. 6969 with respect to the proper disposal of hazardous hospital waste, hence the company is left with no other option but to suspend its operation and quarantine our plant’s premises and inform the concerned government regulatory agencies for their improper action and disposition on the matter, less it be found in flagrant violation of the aforementioned statutes.
The Management Committee bilaterally endorsed the Chief Legal Counsel’s proposal of shutting down the plant until further notice and after receipt of proper clearances from the respective government agencies. Also a written explanation is expected from the City officials on what actually transpired and what measures will be taken to ensure that this will not happen again. According to Mr. Lee, “As a matter of principle, we cannot continue operating our plant on the basis of monetary considerations alone while risking the safety of our employees.” Furthermore he was quoted as saying, “Money, we will still be earned but my responsibility to my employees will always come first. Nothing comes above this.”
Ronald Shane Flynn, TGEG’s Chairman and Founder said, “this will pose
an effect to our company’s shareholders and partners. The risks the
City officials of San Fernando posed to True Green Energy Groups
employees and families has also jeopardized our joint venture. “If the
basic tenet of decorum, security and safety is not important to this
country’s local officials, well it’s very important to me! “ Furthermore he
said “I have made it a mission in life to protect the interests of the less
fortunate and improve their lives in whatever means possible while
promoting the interest of the company’s shareholders, because I
believe that those who have less in life should have more in law and in
the same manner, their basic human rights should be protected.”
Mr. Flynn was also quoted as saying, “Enough is enough, I have tolerated and extended my hand to all the inappropriate actions of the City, being stonewalled and sometimes even insulted just to make our joint venture work but I will not tolerate this any further.
The City still hasn’t followed through with their contractual obligation in providing the facility an access road going in and out of the site, round the clock security and support among other things. I’ve bent over backwards just to prove my goodwill and good faith but if their actions will cost me the safety of my people who I treat as family, this I will no longer accede to. I may not be Filipino by blood but my employees have adopted me as one of their own and I will always have their best interest in mind.”
According to TGEG, the parent company, they’ve been extending all their facilities, manpower and support to this project primarily to uplift the lives of the poor residents in the surrounding area who they have employed and as a firm commitment to the City and the Company’s shareholders that TGEG and SBSC continues to do the right thing both in its corporate social responsibility and in its profitability.
Mr. Flynn was also quoted as saying, “Enough is enough, I have tolerated and extended my hand to all the inappropriate actions of the City, being stonewalled and sometimes even insulted just to make our joint venture work but I will not tolerate this any further.
The City still hasn’t followed through with their contractual obligation in providing the facility an access road going in and out of the site, round the clock security and support among other things. I’ve bent over backwards just to prove my goodwill and good faith but if their actions will cost me the safety of my people who I treat as family, this I will no longer accede to. I may not be Filipino by blood but my employees have adopted me as one of their own and I will always have their best interest in mind.”
According to TGEG, the parent company, they’ve been extending all their facilities, manpower and support to this project primarily to uplift the lives of the poor residents in the surrounding area who they have employed and as a firm commitment to the City and the Company’s shareholders that TGEG and SBSC continues to do the right thing both in its corporate social responsibility and in its profitability.
During the evacuation the television media and press interviewed the
Company’s senior officers at the plant with the representatives of
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and it was
agreed upon based on these government agencies recommendations
that the plant should temporarily suspend their regular operations until
the DENR together with the Department of Health (DOH), Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Local Government Unit
(LGU), could ensure that it is safe to resume operations.
The Company has always been very transparent in all its operations and practices hence the said report was made to the proper government agencies. According to their Director for External Affairs, they also have meetings lined up with the DOH and DOLE for proper disposition and for a speedy resolution.
This may slow down the company’s joint venture progress, particularly in San Fernando but management continues to be confident that the foundation for progress should be built in a very stable manner to guarantee future and steady growth, accordingly opportunity cost will always be outweighed by actual financial gains at any given day hence positive remedies have to be in place to secure the company’s position in the future.
Please be advised this news will be in the press tomorrow and on TV in the Philippines. We will also attempt to publish this article with PR-WEB ON August 7, 2012.
The Company has always been very transparent in all its operations and practices hence the said report was made to the proper government agencies. According to their Director for External Affairs, they also have meetings lined up with the DOH and DOLE for proper disposition and for a speedy resolution.
This may slow down the company’s joint venture progress, particularly in San Fernando but management continues to be confident that the foundation for progress should be built in a very stable manner to guarantee future and steady growth, accordingly opportunity cost will always be outweighed by actual financial gains at any given day hence positive remedies have to be in place to secure the company’s position in the future.
Please be advised this news will be in the press tomorrow and on TV in the Philippines. We will also attempt to publish this article with PR-WEB ON August 7, 2012.
Best Regards,
Ronald Flynn Founder/Chairman
Ronald Flynn Founder/Chairman
