THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) has issued a license allowing UST to keep explosive substances in campus laboratories.
The permit granted last April 5 was in compliance with the Firearm and Explosives Law which requires schools to obtain permits before they can buy or possess explosive ingredients for research and academic purposes.
“The license attests that UST has complied with all legal and structural requirements of the PNP,” said Ross Vasquez, Laboratory Equipment and Supplies Office (Leso) administrator. “It means Leso is legal, safe and the usage of explosives is controlled.”
Vasquez also said that having the license meant that the University has a suitable storage area for chemicals, complete firefighting equipment, and the qualified personnel.”
Delayed
The law was implemented in 2008, but UST applied for the license only on July 29, 2010, seven days after PNP inspected the Leso.
According to Col. Rogelio Simon, assistant chief of the PNP’s Explosives Management Division, UST did not know that its chemicals had to be regulated.
“Nung nalaman, saka nag-apply,” said Simon, a Biochemistry alumnus of UST.
But Vasquez said not all institutions secure permits to regulate their chemicals.
Vasquez blamed the PNP’s “lapses” for the eight-month delay of the permit.
But Simon said another inspection was ordered by the PNP after discovering “several defects” in the Leso, as well as some changes in the application process.
Police Supt. Vicente Hermoso Jr., who personally inspected UST laboratories last July 22, said he would give Leso eight points in a scale of 1 to 10.
“At first, it was not good. There were no labels. The chemicals were not separated.” Hermoso said in an interview. “But now it’s okay.”
“Eight points is not ideal, but UST has corrected significant defects,” Simon said.
Vasquez said he was confident of the safety of the storage area, but added that “its location is not strategic,” since it is above the Museum of Arts and Sciences and up to the Main Building tower.
“Hindi dapat dito yung storage, kasi tower ito,” Vasquez said. “There should be a [separate] building.”
“We would like to have a standard storage area for the flammables,” said Vasquez.
Leso’s license certificate will expire on April 4, 2012. Daphne J. Magturo
They should relocate the storage of dangerous chemicals elsewhere in the campus so as not to make a threat in the Main Building Tower incase of explosion.
They should relocate the storage of dangerous chemicals elsewhere in the campus so as not to make a threat in the Main Building Tower incase of explosion.