Around 200 Puerto Princesa residents to undergo “mercury test”

• Source: http://palawan-news.com/around-200-puerto-princesa-residents-undergo-mercury-test/
• Sunday, January 15, 2017

By Catherine Santos

Around 200 residents living near the mercury-contaminated lake in Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa, Palawan will undergo tests as part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ assessment of the possible impact of mercury contamination to human populations in the area, said DENR Undersecretary Marlo Mendoza.

“Dati wala pa tayong ginagawang [test sa] mercury level sa tao, gagawin na natin ngayon. Ang inventory namin nasa 200 residents. Hindi lang ‘yung mga residents sa palibot ng lake, kundi sa iba pang residents ng Sta. Lourdes,” Mendoza explained.

Mendoza clarified, however, that testing does not mean they are all affected or contaminated.

Last week, DENR chief Gina Lopez conducted a dialogue with some affected residents and explained the hazards of living near the pit lake, a mined-out area of Palawan Quicksilver Mines Incorporated (PQMI). PQMI, which operated in Puerto Princesa from 1954 to 1975, was able to extract and ship 2,500 tons of cinnabar ore (toxic mercury sulfide mineral) to Japan. The company’s mining activity has left an almost 3-hectare 30-meter deep pit which later became a lake and is now one of the sources of livelihood of surrounding communities.

The DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, in partnership with the local government of Puerto Princesa, is currently implementing a rehabilitation program in the mined-out area to turn it into a tourist destination. MGB MIMAROPA Regional Director Roland de Jesus said the project is set to finish this year. Most recently, Usec. Mendoza said the DENR is set to expand the rehabilitation program: “Tingin namin hindi enough ang assessment na nagawa, gusto namin i-expand. Kasi tingin namin beyond the lake ang problem.”

Based on MGB’s soil and water analysis, the mercury level in the soil has exceeded the standard of DENR. The standard for mercury is .5 mg/kilogram, but samples taken in the area reached 3.5 mg/kilogram.

“Titingnan din ‘yung surface soil, sediments at saka yung water sa Honda Bay. Pati ‘yung isda sa certain areas ng Honda Bay, kung saan lumalabas yung ilog na dumadaan doon sa may pit lake, ‘yung fishes mayroon ding mercury,” Mendoza said. He added that they are going to expand the assessment by increasing the number of persons and areas covered by the tests.

DENR targets to finish the assessment in a few months. The result will be the basis for expanding the rehabilitation program in the area and for possible immediate relocation of the residents.

PQMI is the only abandoned mine in MIMAROPA under the old Mining Law which was identified by the DENR-MGB for rehabilitation.