(Delivered by SCIS Director Khalil S. Bayam)

ISANG MAKAKALIKASANG ARAW SA ATING LAHAT!

I AM HONORED TO BE PART OF THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY FOR CONFISCATED AND SURRENDERED CHEMICALS.  THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU DESERVES COMMENDATION AND THANKS FOR THIS INNOVATION.

THIS FACILITY WILL BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF CONFISCATED OR SURRENDERED CHEMICALS BEFORE THEIR PROPER DISPOSAL, OR CHEMICALS THAT ARE EVIDENCE OF AN ONGOING CASE.

THIS IS INDEED A VERY WELCOME INITIATIVE AS THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO ESTABLISH SUCH A STORAGE FACILITY BECAUSE, AT PRESENT, THE SEQUESTERED OZONE-DEPLETING SUBSTANCES AND HYDROFLUOROCARBONS REFRIGERANTS ARE STORED EITHER AT THE EMB-NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION OR SUBIC BAY PORT FACILITY OR AT MANILA PORT FACILITY. SINCE THESE ARE CAREFULLY STORED AND REGULARLY MONITORED IN THESE AREAS, IT IS IDEAL TO HAVE ALL THE REFRIGERANTS TRANSFERRED INTO THIS INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY FOR MUCH MORE PROPER MANAGEMENT WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR DISPOSAL.

I BELIEVE THAT HAVING THIS KIND OF FACILITY WILL NOT ONLY UPGRADE THE CAPABILITY OF EMB IN TERMS OF CHEMICAL HANDLING BUT WILL ALSO ELIMINATE THE RISK FOR THOSE HANDLING THE CHEMICAL.

BUT THIS FACILITY WILL NOT BE EXCLUSIVELY USED FOR THE STORAGE OF CONFISCATED REFRIGERANTS AS THIS IS ALSO DESIGNED TO STORE ANY TYPE OF CONFISCATED OR SURRENDERED CHEMICALS THAT EMB IS OBLIGATED TO SECURE.

THE EMB AND PAB STAND TO GAIN SO MUCH FROM HAVING A WELL-MAINTAINED STORAGE FACILITY FOR FUTURE NEEDS.

THANKFULLY, THE DENR OWNS A HUGE TRACT OF LAND WHERE WE CAN CONSTRUCT THIS FACILITY. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL SPARK OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS AREA.

ON THIS NOTE, LET ME THANK EMB AND ALL ITS PARTNERS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMPLETION OF THIS STORAGE FACILITY IN 120 DAYS.  SO THAT BY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE INAUGURATION AND FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF THE CHEMICALS TO THIS FACILITY.

AGAIN, THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS!