By Maez Estrada
FOR RESIDENTS of Happyland, Tondo in Manila, the biggest irony in their community lies in its name: with a coal facility wreaking damage to their health and safety, their barangay is anything but a happy place.
Due to the damages the privately-owned open pit coal stockpile facility has been causing, the Manila City government has released a temporary closure notice back in 2016 to the facility located in Barangay 105, Tondo, more popularly known as “Happyland.” However, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) subsequently issued a resolution lifting the said suspension, enabling the facility to continue operations despite mounting complaints.
The coal facility, run by Rock Energy International Corp., has since resumed operations, and has continued its activities even amid the pandemic.
‘Not a happy place’
Residents of Happyland expressed alarm over the resumption of operations of the open pit coal stockpile facility.
Norie Edilo, who has been residing in the community for over a decade now, shared how she developed lung complications due to suspected exposure to coal dust.
“Kakapanganak ko pa lang noon, nagka-TB na ako. Pero maliit pa lang ako, nagrarally na kami d’yan. Ngayon, nakakahinga na lang kami nang maayos kapag umuulan,” she lamented, adding that the coal dust also causes skin rashes and sore eyes usually experienced by children and infants in the community.
Aside from health problems, residents also raised concerns about water and noise pollution that they are experiencing.
“Ang tubig namin, ang dumi niyan, makikita mo sa gilid-gilid ng mga planggana,” said Elsa Catuday, a Happyland resident for 13 years now.
Late night operations inside the facility cause loud and ground-shaking noises that affect residents who live nearby, like Rolen dela Cruz. “May mga crack na bahay namin kasi umaalog siya kapag naghuhukay,” he revealed.
The open pit coal stockpile facility in Happyland, Tondo
The coal facility has also affected the livelihood of Happyland residents. Coal dust usually ends up in foods and drinks being sold by vendors in the community. Contractual workers operating the facility also testified about the lack of protective gear while working. The owners of the coal stockpile facility even prohibited mobile phones and cameras inside the workplace, hindering workers from documenting their unsafe labor condition.
Shutdown campaign continues
With the coal facility again ramping up its activities, residents are planning to resume their “shutdown campaign” which they began in 2015. The said campaign directly resulted in the Manila City government’s issuance of a temporary closure order.
In the past years, there have been reported death cases in their community that can be linked to the coal dust. One such case involved an infant, who suffered from a lung problem that caused her death.
Instead of addressing the health and safety issues caused by the open pit stockpile facility, its owners even threatened Happyland residents to leave their community. “Ang sinabi, ‘kung hindi kayo makatagal, eh ‘di umalis kayo d’yan.’ S’yempre, ano bang iisipin ng mga residente kundi demolisyon ang kasunod. Pinaglalaban namin na hindi kami ang mapaalis, ang mapaalis ay ‘yung coal (stockpile) na ‘yan,” Catuday said.
However, with the DENR overturning the Manila local government’s order, the coal activities immediately resumed. Five years since the temporary closure in 2016, the Manila LGU, the DENR, and even barangay officials have not addressed the issue again.
For Happyland residents, this situation leaves them with no choice but to continue their shutdown campaign, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Kasagsagan ng pandemic, kasagsagan din kung kailan sila nagtatambak hanggang sa umapaw na ‘yung coal,” Catuday stressed, explaining that they will continue asserting for the complete shutdown of the open pit coal stockpile facility, as their health, safety, and livelihood are on the line.
