Residents surrounding NFA compound complain of foul odor
Residents surrounding the National Food Authority (NFA) compound in Brgy. Quintin Salas, Jaro, as well as motorists passing the area, have complained about the foul odor coming from the rice stocks damaged by flood.
They have called the attention of the City Health Office and the NFA to act on their complaint fearing that the bad smell could cause respiratory ailments especially among the children and the elderly.
NFA provincial manager Heddy Jardeleza, meanwhile, assured the residents surrounding the NFA compound that the thousands of rice bags damaged by flood, which are now emitting foul odor, would be disposed as fast as possible.
Residents of barangays Tacas, Quintin Salas and MV Hechanova, as well as motorists passing the NFA compound, complained of the bad smell coming from the damaged rice stocks.
They are afraid that the foul odor would cause them respiratory ailments.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas, reportedly, has already brought to the attention of President Gloria Arroyo the problem raised by the residents.
Jardeleza said they are exerting all their efforts for the immediate disposal of the damaged rice stocks as it is not only the residents of the nearby barangays who complain about the bad smell but also their employees.
Jardeleza yesterday told The News Today in a telephone interview that they want to dispose all the damaged rice stocks as soon as possible. As of Saturday, the agency has been able to dump and bury some 20,000 bags of damaged rice stocks inside the NFA compound.
She said they are also using a chemical odor buster to hasten the decomposition of the damaged rice stocks.
Jardeleza added two firms expressed intention to take some of the damaged rice stocks to be converted into organic fertilizer.
Jardeleza said the rice bags damaged by flash floods were those in the bottom part of the pile of sacks. A total of 277,386 bags of rice were submerged in muddy flood water.
She said the lichen coming from the rice and the presence of mud contributed in the bad smell.
"Our employees have to wear masks to protect themselves," Jardeleza said.
City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Urminico Baronda on Saturday conducted an inspection along the NFA compound to check on the complaints of the nearby residents.
He confirmed that there is a foul smell coming from the damaged rice stocks which could trigger asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Baronda recommended to the residents to wear masks and seek immediate medical help at the health centers near the Jaro police station and in Brgy. Balantang in case they feel something wrong with their health. The residents could also transfer to other areas if they wish to avoid the bad small emanating from the damaged rice stocks.
The CHO head also requested the NFA to fast track the disposal of the damaged rice to prevent the outbreak of a respiratory disease along the area.