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How would they explain the death of pregnant “Dugong”?
Fisherfolk groups reject results of latest probe on
Lafayette mining spills

Leaders of Lakas ng mga Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Bicol (Lambat-Bicol) and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday rejected the results of the latest tests made on waters off the Lafayette mining site that showed cyanide levels there within safe limits.

In a joint press statement signed by Lambat-Bicol secretary general Arieto Radores and Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, both groups questioned the outcome of water sampling conducted by an investigating team commissioned by the provincial government of Sorsogon last January 6 and 19.

“ How they would explain the death a pregnant Dugong which was found in Sitio Gogon, Barangay Poblacion, Rapu-Rapu island, one of the affected areas of the last year’s mining spills on the morning of January 25? Unless they could prove to us that the rare marine mammal committed suicide, that’s the time we can say their results were correct,” Lambat-Bicol and Pamalakaya said in joint statement.

On January 6 and 19, a team composed of scientists and researchers from the Department of Science and Technology, UP National Science Research Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Sorsogon multi-partite monitoring task force was dispatched to investigate the chemical contamination following complaints from fishermen that no one was buying their catch for fear of contamination.

But reports reaching Pamalakaya national office said local fisherfolk in barangay Poblacion suspected that Dugong’s death was due to exposure to toxic chemical wastes present in the seawaters off Lafayette.

“ The incident took place barely a week after the last water sampling test. We are not scientists nor researchers good in scientific research but our rich experience would lead us to an objective conclusion that the death of Dugong is largely attributed to the heavy toxicity of waters off Rapu-Rapu Island,” Hicap asserted.

Pamalakaya and Lambat-Bicol said Fr. Felino Bugauisan local Assistant Parish Priest and spokesperson of Sagip Isla told environmentalists monitoring the Lafayette mine spills that it was the first time Rapu-Rapu residents found a dead Dugong in the Island.

The group asserted that the death of Dugong validated the toxic effects of the cyanide and other heavy metals in the mine tailings spilled from the mining operation last year. Pamalakaya said, contrary to the findings of Sorsogon provincial government commissioned research group the threat of contamination still lingers in the island.

Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment which had been assisting local fisherfolk groups in their fight for the permanent closure of Lafayette Mining asserted that the cyanide spill and the voluminous toxic mine tailings that have been dumped in Rapu-Rapu island has caused the contamination of the seagrass and poisoning of sealife including the Dugong.

On the average, a dugong eats 25 kilos of seagrass a day. The presence of toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic in their food is fatal to Dugong. Aside from Dugong, whale sharks, commonly known as Butanding are also found in Rapu-Rapu Island. The people and local government of Sorsogon also oppose the LMI large-scale mining project because it is affecting the multimillion whale watching tourism in the province. Rapu-Rapu Island and Donsol, Sorsogon is the natural sanctuary of Butanding and Dugong.

Until now, the people and fisherfolks of Rapu-Rapu Island are reeling from the effects of mine tailings spill of LMI. The volume of our fish catch drastically decreased and people from other places is still afraid to buy our catch for fear of toxic poisoning.

Kalikasan and Defend Patrimony said cyanide spill, the fish kill and the death of Dugong in the Island only shows why the DENR can not be trusted with the protection of people's welfare and the environment. They said the situation also affirms that there is no such thing as environmental-friendly mining operation under the mining revitalization program of the Arroyo administration.

Pamalakaya, Lambat-Bicol, Defend Patrimony and Kalikasan reiterate their demand for the closure of the Lafayette mining operation in the island. On Monday they will join the presentation of the laboratory results of the local samples drawn by an Independent Investigative Mission, led by the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC), on the immediate impacts of the Rapu-Rapu incident. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 01:04 | link | comments |

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