Sunday, October 12, 2008 Maambong also wants to stop mine operations
CEBU Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong has thrown in his support to suspend the operations of the emergency tailings pond of the Carmen Copper Corp. (CCC) after its waste material spilled over to Sapangdaku River in Barangay Sapangdaku, Toledo City.
“The leakage of the tailings pond… although only in small amount, may still cause damage to the environment, to Sigpit Creek and nearby residents,” Maambong wrote in his resolution.
Residents are complaining about the large deposits of mine tailings left in the water. Water pollution has reportedly caused a fish kill in some barangays.
Harmless
But the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 recently assured Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo, barangay and CCC officials that the waste material from the mining firm is “not harmful.”
MGB 7 Director Roger de Dios said tailings that spilled over to Sapangdaku River are “not toxic… (as) there is no chemical used that causes any harmful side effects in the entire process.”
The MGB 7 earlier ordered the operations of CCC’s tailings pond suspended.
At their meeting, de Dios said the waste “is not harmful” and that the pH level of these materials falls within the standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Close monitoring
Despite the assurance, Garcia directed CCC officials to closely monitor their main pipe, which reportedly malfunctions from time to time.
In a separate motion, the board member lauded Congress for passing the renewable energy bill.
The bill aims to lessen the country’s dependency on imported fuel and helps avert climate change.
“The Renewable Energy Bill provides for tax exemptions to imported materials needed for the production of renewable energy, tax incentives to local developers of instrumentations and equipment and subsidies and discounts to the electric consumptions,” Maambong said.
With the passage of the act, the House of Representatives requires the use of explorations of renewable energy such as wind, solar or ethanol power to decrease the reliance of the country on imported fuels. (GMD)
