Business execs want answers over garbage dump fire

The Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede) has called for a reassessment of management capacity and control to reduce pollution, environmental impact and health risks associated with the operation of the Cerro Patacón garbage site.

The call came on Thursday March 21 after the fire that started on Tuesday March 19.

Apede emphasized that this incident has affected the normal operation of the landfill, and the health of the citizens of the city of Panama.
The members of Apede recalled that the operation of the landfill is subject to strict compliance with environmental regulations and specifically the Program Environmental Compliance and Management (Pama), approved and supervised by the National Environmental Authority.
On the other hand, Apede emphasized that Cerro Patacón is in the process of application for registration as a proposed CDM before the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which means a strict respect of Pama and other international standards.
Apede urged authorities to assume their responsibilities and start a serious and rigorous research of the management holding the concession as well as the causes of fire, and to publish the results.
The garbage authority (AAUD) reported that it already has a place to deposit the waste it collects, since their work has been affected by fire.
The CEO of the AAUD, Enrique Ho Fernandez said from 11:00 pm on Thursday a temporary space has been opened on Patacón hill to deposit trash. Before that time, 100% of the truck fleet was out of action

Ho Fernandez reported that, so far, in the landfill are 24 dump trucks, three bulldozers and other equipment articulated to collect  land to be thrown on the fire. However, it requires more equipment, the official insisted on TVN Noticias.

Asked about the magnitude of the fire, Ho said Thursday most amount of fire on the ground of the hill has been extinguished.

"A lot of white smoke is coming out of the inside of the hill, but we're trying to cover as much as possible with earth to extinguish the fire," he said.
Algis Torres, Regional Director of Health of San Miguelito, announced that nine  patients with chronic diseases have been treated in Mocambo, close to the fire.
Torres said that these patients suffer from hypertension, pneumonia and bronchopneumonia. Therefore were not affected directly (butrather indirectly) by the carbon layer, as they have underlying diseases, he said.
On, Wednesday, Health Mnister, Javier Diaz, said the layer of smoke generated by the fire had no toxicity levels that cause a serious health risk. "The cloud over the city has no toxic levels that can affect health," said Diaz.
Meanwhile, President Ricardo Martinelli jumped into the discussion.
" Three fires simultaneously in three different places Coincidence? Sabotage? Luck? Fortunately controlled, "the president wrote on his Twitter account.