NAVOTAS City Mayor Toby Tiangco has confirmed the death yesterday of another employee of T.P.Marcelo Ice Plant in North Bay Boulevard where ammonia leak occurred on Wednesday afternoon.
The lifeless body of Joselito Jazareno, 54, electrician and resident of Malabon City was found near the surge tank of the ice plant where the explosion happened at around 4:19 p.m. causing an ammonia leak that sent 96 people to different hospitals after suffering from shortness of breath, coughing and eyes, nose and throat irritation.
Earlier, the Navotas Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported the death of Gilbert Naval Tiangco, 44, also an employee of the ice plant who was declared dead upon arrival at the Navotas City Hospital, together with 59 others, but were later discharged after treatment.
The Navotas City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) also reported that 76 persons who were also rushed to the Tondo General Hospital were also discharged while 20 more are still staying at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
Tiangco said affected residents who were sent to evacuation centers following the ammonia leak returned to their homes at around 8:23 p.m. Wednesday after the BFP and CDRRMO assured the area was already out of danger.
The mayor, who earlier sent his apology for the incident after admitting in public that his mother and her siblings were the owners of the company said all the victims will be compensated and a thorough investigation will be conducted.
He also clarified that burial expenses, financial assistance and medical expenses that will be extended to the victims will be shouldered by the company and not by the Navotas City government.
“Kasalukuyan pong nakasara ang ice plant at pabubuksan lamang po natin ito kapag naisagawa na nito ang safety measures alinsunod sa mga rekomendasyon ng Bureau of Fire Protection,” Tiangco said.
The city government meanwhile will provide counselling to the residents who were traumatized after the incident while the BFP and the sanitation officers will conduct inspection at various ice plants and cold storage to make sure that all will adheres to the Occupational Safety Standards and Environmental Compliances.
