CAGAYAN de Oro City — Experts have detected radioactive isotopes, including Uranium-238, Thorium-228, and Thorium-232, in imported scrap metals used by Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation to manufacture steel rebars at its plant in Barangay Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
The findings prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to revoke the company's Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and issue a cease-and-desist order, effectively shutting down the steel smelting facility.
Teresa Salabit, a researcher from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), said radioactive materials were detected in piles of scrap metal believed to have been imported from China for use in steel production.
Salabit added that traces of the radioactive isotopes were found throughout the manufacturing process, including in millions of finished steel rebars stored within the company's 27-hectare facility.
She noted that two similar steel plants in Bulacan and Pampanga were previously shut down after hazardous radioactive isotopes were discovered in their production lines.
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"Sanjia uses the same outdated manufacturing process as the Bulacan and Pampanga factories that were also shut down," Salabit said.
The Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) also reported that, aside from the radioactive materials, steel rebars and other products manufactured at the Sanjia facility were found to be substandard and "structurally risky."
However, Sanjia's legal counsel and spokesperson, Attorney Julia Chu, denied allegations that the company used contaminated or illegally imported nuclear waste from China. She maintained that the firm's raw materials were sourced from Japan and were fully certified.
The plant was previously owned by Tony Yang, brother of Michael Yang, a former economic adviser to then-President Rodrigo Duterte. Tony Yang is currently detained at the Cagayan de Oro City Jail in Barangay Lumbia on charges related to the alleged falsification of public documents to conceal his Chinese nationality.
DENR 10 assistant regional director Norlito Eneran said the cease-and-desist order effectively halts all operations of Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation.
Eneran added that the company was fined P450,000 for administrative violations.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH)-10 is set to conduct medical examinations on more than 300 Sanjia employees in Tagoloan to determine whether they were exposed to hazardous radioactive materials.
Defense Secretary said many workers were reportedly operating without radiation-protective gear and were unaware of the potential dangers in their work environment.
Teodoro arrived in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday along with representatives from several government agencies to provide updates on the ongoing investigation into Philippine Sanjia Steel Corporation.
