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Friday, May 13, 2005
N. Cotabato guv commits P60T for arsenic testing
NORTH Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol vowed to donate P60,000 to the Mount Apo Arsenic Surveillance Task Force to help finance laboratory tests in determining the presence of arsenic in several barangays around the Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plant in Kidapawan City.
Piñol gave his assurance to the task force during a short meeting in his office last Tuesday, reiterating the support of his administration in the effort to determine the source of the alleged lead and arsenic poisoning afflicting children in mountain barangays of Mua-an and Meohao.
A team of experts led by Nelia Cortes-Maramba of UP Manila National Poison Management and Control Center is currently conducting sampling activities in selected areas.
The samples will then be brought to the University of the Philippines and at a laboratory in New Hampshire in the United States for arsenic and lead testing.
In an interview, Piñol reiterated his willingness to provide financial support for a comprehensive study to finally resolve the issue of alleged arsenic poisoning around the geothermal plant area.
The geothermal plant operation is blamed by residents for the arsenic and lead poisoning affecting them.
It was learned that 39 people had been afflicted with arsenic poisoning in the two barangays located 10 to 12 kilometers away from the geothermal plant site.
The Philippine National Oil Company denied their geothermal plant is the source of the arsenic poisoning.
They claimed that even before their operation in the area, high level of arsenic presence in the water and air are already recorded due to the presence of the Mt. Apo volcano. (BOT)
(May 13, 2005 issue)
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