Martes, Disyembre 20, 2005 6:18:19 AM President orders probe on...

Martes, Disyembre 20, 2005 6:18:19 AM
President orders probe on mercury contamination in Sorsogon waters
Monday, December 19 2005 @ 07:28 PM GMT

Provincial
President orders probe on mercury contamination in Sorsogon waters

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to conduct separate examinations on the waters and fishes in some areas in Sorsogon province that were reportedly contaminated with mercury.

The order, according to Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee Monday, was issued last week as he sought the President's intervention in the alleged contamination being blamed on the mining operations of Lafayette Phils. Inc. (LPI), a multi-national mining firm allowed by the government to operate in Rapu-rapu, Albay.

Rapu-rapu is a vast mineral-rich island where LPI is extracting raw gold, silver, copper and zinc through its Rapu-rapu Polymettalic Project (RPP) that started commercial operations in a 230-hectare mining site last year. It shares nautical boundaries with Prieto Diaz town and Bacon district of this city.

Recently, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) tested for mercury water and fish samples taken from areas near the shorelines of Prieto Diaz and found high levels of contamination, prompting the agency to declare various fish species from the area unfit for human consumption.

These test results triggered a "mercury scare" that severely affected the fishing industry in the area.

Vice Governor Antonio Escudero last week said fishermen in Prieto Diaz, its neighboring town of Gubat and Bacon district here were already warned against catching and eating fish from the area.

Catching, selling and transporting of fishes from these points were also banned and checkpoints were set up in relation to this imposition by the provincial government, Escudero said.

Lee noted President Arroyo was worried about the reported mercury contamination as it would severely affect the fishing industry of the province and the credibility of LPI in complying with the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before it was allowed to operate.

LPI is a P1.4-billion investment that was projected to generate some P1.458 billion in taxes for the government in its planned seven-year operation.

Apart from directing the DOST to conduct investigation, Lee said, Mrs. Arroyo also ordered BFAR director Marcom Sarmiento Jr. to personally attend to the problem. The BFAR director was expected to arrive here Monday, he added.

At this point in time, accusing fingers should not be pointed to LPI as reconfirmation of the alleged BFAR test results were yet to be done, the governor said.

The provincial legislative board and some members of the city council here have accused LPI of dumping toxic waste into the seawaters that serve as fishing grounds shared by Rapu-rapu, this city and Prieto Diaz town.

The controversy was ignited by a fish kill believed to be caused by the overflowing of the mine tailings pond last October that resulted in a series of cyanide spillage.

These incidents led to an order issued by the DENR last October 31 for a temporary shutting down of RPP operation.

In the wake of these developments, some Sorsogon officials requested BFAR to conduct the tests on the seawaters and fish samples that revealed high levels of mercury contaminations. Lafayette has denied using mercury in its gold processing operations, but Escudero said some witnesses have said otherwise.

The provincial government is considering placing the area under a state of calamity.