Toxic elements found in Pampanga River

APALIT, Pampanga — Four years after a giant alcohol firm was shut down in Barangay Sulipan here, the Pampanga River has remained contaminated with cadmium and arsenic, both toxic elements, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said.

The DOST, in a report, said significant levels of the two toxic elements were found in the waters of the river which winds through Macabebe, Sasmuan, Guagua, Minalin, Sto. Tomas and Lubao in Pampanga, and Hagonoy and Calumpit in Bulacan.

Dr. Melinda Cabuwagan, municipal health officer, said the pollutants could be responsible for the high incidence of respiratory and skin diseases among local folk.

The arsenic deposits in the river are believed to have come from the wastes dumped by the Central Fermentation and Industrial Corp. (CFIC) which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shut down in 1997.

The cadmium deposits, meanwhile, could have come from other sources.

The plant of Far East Alcohol Co., located near CFIC’s, was also shut down in 1997, but has resumed operations after improving its anti-pollution facilities at a cost of P15 million.

The DOST said cadmium is used mostly in electroplating other metals, as well as for batteries, pigments and nuclear reactor roads. It is also used as stabilizers for plastics.

On the other hand, arsenic is used as plant dessicant, and in wood preservation and pesticide production.

The DOST urged continuing surveillance of local folk exposed to the two toxic elements whose effects, it said, could be long-term.

Meanwhile, former employees of the late DENR regional executive director Ricardo Serrano lamented the government’s failure to solve his murder on June 18, 1998.

Serrano was shot dead by one of two motorcycle-riding men along Congressional Road in Quezon City. He was to take his oath as DENR undersecretary before he was gunned down.

"We cannot accept the fact that the National Bureau of Investigation has not identified his killers up to now. How could dedicated government workers like Serrano remain loyal to their work if they get killed for principles without anyone being caught for their deaths?" asked Bong Lacson, once an executive aide of Serrano.

Supporters of Serrano in Central Luzon has formed the Friends of Ric Serrano Movement to push for the solution of his murder.