Lafayette: Mining report long on rhetoric, short on science

RAPU-RAPU, Albay — A top official of the Lafayette Mining Corp. here maintained the report completed by the Rapu-Rapu Fact-Finding Commission (RRFFC) led by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes lacked scientific basis.

Bayani Agabin, vice president of the legal affairs department of Lafayette, pointed out the report submitted by the RRFFC to President Arroyo merely stated theories on environmental advocacy in accusing the mining firm of pollution.

"It (is) full of adjectives and rhetoric, but empty of science," Agabin told reporters here during a press briefing. Agabin made the statement while Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes led a team on an ocular inspection of the mining firm.

Agabin pointed out the 169-page report disregarded the accounts of people living in the island as well as the independent findings made by the University of the Philippines-National Science and Research Institute that cleared Rapu-Rapu island and Sorsogon of any contamination supposedly caused by mining operations in the area.

Upon his arrival at the Legazpi City airport, Reyes and the DENR team were greeted with placard-bearing residents, apparently there to express how Lafayette had provided job opportunities progress to their community.

Reyes was also accompanied by two members of the RRFFC commission, Charlie Avila and Pepe Sarmiento. Avila, for his part, stood pat on the RRFFC report but stressed the final decision would be the DENR’s.

"Tapos (na) ang trabaho namin (Our job is done)," Avila declared.

During a dialogue, the municipal council of Rapu-Rapu submitted a resolution calling for the resumption of operations, pointing out the Australian mining firm provided job opportunities to the 35,000 residents in the island and nearby areas.

The residents told Reyes that earlier reports of supposed massive fishkill and outbreak of skin diseases in the area caused by pollution emanating from the mining firm had been exaggerated and were without basis.

Lafayette earlier issued a statement claiming the Bastes Commission was pushing the theory of weakening skin immune systems from exposure to a heavy metal, hexavalent chromium.

Lafayette officials said even the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had been requested to investigate the claims and their initial findings showed a deliberate effort by some unidentified groups to block the mining project on fears it had contaminated the waters and fish of Sorsogon.

Juliana Manalo, the mother of a two-year-old boy who had earlier been reported to have a skin disease caused by mining tails, claimed her son only suffered from skin allergy.

"Allergic siya sa (isang) pagkain (He contracted an allergy from eating some kind of food)," she said.

Malibago barangay officials also denounced some reports that their barangay had become the most affected area.

Barangay chairman Winner Asuncion said some groups opposed to the mining operations were making up the stories, including rumors of supposed payoffs to local officials.

"If there was money given it did not go into our pockets but to the livelihood assistance of the people, schools, electricity and water system," he said.

If the government shuts down the Lafayette mining operations, some 35,000 people would be left without water and electricity as well their livelihood, Asuncion claimed.

"Our children who are supported by the company as scholars will now lose their opportunity to pursue their studies," he said.

Lafayette officials, for their part, presented Reyes with a certificate stating their compliance to the environmental guidelines to prevent similar accidents from occurring. Earlier this year, the DENR ordered the suspension of mining operations on the island pending the investigation by the RRFFC.

Among the measures undertaken was the installation of an alarm system to alert officials of any irregularities at their operation. — With Mike Frialde