Albay governor orders investigation of fish kill
Environmentalists, clergy continue to oppose Lafayette mines
By Manny T. Ugalde and Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondents-Manila Times
LEGAZPI CITY: Albay Governor Jose Sarte Salceda on Tuesday called for a thoroughinvestigation into the fishkill that hit five coastal villages of Rapu-rapu allegedly triggered by mine tailings that overflowed from a mining operation in the said island town.
Salceda said his office had asked the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to undertake a thorough investigation of the reported fish kill incidents that happened on Sunday.
As this developed, Lucilo Quiambao, Auxilliary Bishop of the Diocese of Legazpi renewed the call for the mining operations of Lafayette be permanently stopped, which is the stand of the church and the anti-mines groups in the Bicol region.
The Albay governor also dispatched his environment consultant to conduct a parallel probe and submit a recommendation as to what action the provincial government should make in order that similar incidents be prevented from happening in the future.
“Facts must be established, as science must rule, but we have to exhaust the full extent of the law to resolved this issue in the best interest of Albay,” said Salceda.
He also urged the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, as well as the BFAR to conduct their own investigation and draw up appropriate legislative actions concerning this environmental concern.
The governor called on the people of Albay, particularly those marginalized fisher folks affected by the fish kill, to be vigilant. Fisher folks along the coast of Rapu-Rapu, particularly the barangays of Pagcolbon, Malobago, Santa Barbara, Carubcob and Poblacion following Friday’s heavy rains discovered the fish kill on Sunday morning.
Rey Juan, regional director of the DENR Bicol went to Rapu-Rapu on Tuesday to conduct an investigation of the reported fish kill off the shores of Poblacion and Pagcolbon where villagers found 10 to 20 kilos of dead fish.
Barangays Pagcolbon, Malobago, and Binosawan are the sites where Lafayette Mining Corp., an Australian mining firm, operates the Rapu-Rapu PolyÂÂmetallic Mining Project.
In an interview over Bombo Radio on Monday evening, Juan said he was surprised when a fish kill happened in Poblacion since it was far-off from the Lafayette mining site.
Juan said they would conduct water sampling in affected areas to check whether toxic contamination was present. Engr. Gilbert Gonzales, EMB regional director admitted to The Manila Times that the Lafayette Philippine Inc., have no rehabilitation fund submitted to his office as of presstime.
“We’re still waiting for their office to submit the rehab fund until December,” Gonzales said.
Governor Salceda who vowed for a continued protest against Lafayette mining during his last term in Congress, said mining firms have not proven beneficial to host provinces, citing the copper and gold mines in Masbate and Camarines Norte among others. He said the two Bicol provinces remain very poor.
Rev. Fr. Ino Bugauisan, former Rapu-Rapu Parish Priest said the latest incident of fish kill is already alarming and the government should not wait for another disaster to come.
He said the effect of mining operations of Lafayette to the environment and community of Rapu-Rapu is much greater than the limited employment opportunities it is able to provide residents or the little income it brings the town and the province.
The mining operation expects to produce gold, copper, silver, zinc with an estimated gains placed at $350 million over the next three years.
Filed under: Main on October 31st, 2007