Test-run for Rapu Rapu’s good

In a decision seen as "the best for all concerned, particularly for the Rapu-Rapu community," the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) directed Lafayette Philippines, Inc. (LPI) to conduct a 30-day, three-stage test run to determine the overall environmental soundness of its mining operation in Albay, located 350 kilometers south of Manila.

The decision was made based on the findings of the Rapu Rapu Fact-Finding Commission that was created after two spills of the toxic cyanide chemical from the mine’s ponds on October 11 and October 31. Not surprisingly the spills terrified Rapu Rapu villagers, and environmentalists rushed to the area, declaring that the toxic chemical killed the fish in the area. The fact-finding commission consulted technical experts and all concerned groups, and conducted on-site validations prior to submitting its report to DENR.

The DENR said the test run will also determine the production efficiency of Lafayette in processing copper and zinc and the sufficiency of its environmental safeguards and responsiveness to emergencies. As such the company will be put under "microscopic scrutiny" by DENR, Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes announced at a press conference. "They can consider this 30-day period as an acid test," he said.

The decision said that the suggestion of allowing open pit mining was not attractive as it would allow small miners to descend on the area and operate without environmental and safety measures, and without proper decommissioning, the generation of acid mine drainage will continue and worsen pollution, eventually resulting in the government’s shouldering the considerable cost of remediation and rehabilitation.

According to Secretary Reyes, the Lafayette project brings economic benefits to the Rapu Rapu communities in the form of 900 direct jobs, P3 billion in government revenues (over the six-year life of the mine) and P5-million per year in project communities.

A statement from Dave Diwa, president of the National Labor Union and secretary general of the Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng mga Manggagawa sa Pilipinas, lauded the DENR decision to allow Lafayette to resume its suspended mining operations. It said the organization’s posture is that mining, "as long as (it) adheres to internationally accepted safe practices that take into account the protection of the environment and the communities around mining sites, provides the economies of many countries the necessary input for growth."

Diwa said that at full capacity, Rapu Rapu can produce around 10,000 tons of copper and 14,000 tons of zinc, in concentrate form, as well as 50,000 ounces of gold and 300,000 ounces of silver. He said that according to Lafayette, the impact of the two spills was minimal, and that the company has already spent P400 million in the past six months to put in place measures that would prevent a repeat of the accidents.

The commission, Reyes said, came to the conclusion that the two tailings spills were preventable; that Lafayette was guilty of operational, technical and management lapses, and that the company’s project "does not appear to measure up to the standards of responsible mining."

The investigation showed that the first wastewater spill was caused by the failure of the main discharge pump that caused the backflow of mine tailings into the events pond and into the Alma and Pagcolbon creeks.

The second incident was caused by an "induced spill in the lower tailings storage facility after heavy rains raised the water levels in that pond to levels high enough to cause fear of dam breaching or collapse."

In effect, the report said, the two spills were caused primarily "by the fact that Lafayette had wrongfully started to fully operate even before its completion of the required environmental infrastructure."

The company, however, has implemented 21 corrective measures to prevent the failure of its pumps at the detoxification plant and events pond; de-silting of the creeks where the wastewater spilled; increasing the height of both tailings dams, and submitting a comprehensive Environmental Management System.

The DENR said it will take appropriate actions to resolve issues raised by the RRFFC report. These include establishing consultative councils for environmental concerns, coordinating with the Department of Health for an epidemiological study in Rapu Rapu and nearby coastal municipalities of Sorsogon, and the creation of a working group to study the creation of an independent Mining Authority.

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A FIL-AMERICAN who is making an impact on Filipino youngsters and families in San Jose, California, is Sara Dominado Gonzalez, executive director of the Filipino Youth Coalition (FYC). Sara, a graduate of Silliman University College of Nursing (class ’69), joined FYC five years ago when she saw the organization’s mission as being "to build a stronger, healthier community with youth-based and culture-competent service delivery system." With the FYC board of directors, the teenagers themselves and their families, the FYC has been able to achieve its goals, and the organization considered as a model of youth services delivery.

San Jose has a population of around 80,000 persons, with a Filipino youth population of 2,000. FYC was formed in 1992 when students got together for a plan-of-action to curb the increasing incidence of gang violence and drug abuse. The final straw was when they learned about the killing of an eight-year-old Filipino boy, Melvin Ancheta, by three teenagers under the influence of drugs. "Enough is enough," they said.

FYC was formed for, and among Filipino-American students attending the city’s six high schools and four middle schools.

FYC’s programs provide students with "strengthening" activities, including information on college readiness and career options, promoting an appreciation of one’s culture through folk art, helping them develop leadership skills, and getting them involved in community affairs.

Sara said the students flock to the center at Welch Park after school hours. She talks excitedly about the kids’ enthusiastic planning of, and participation in activities.

There’s the Battle of the Tribes (held in May), attended by other Filipino high school clubs in Santa Clara County and the San Francisco Bay area. (A thousand students attend this activity). The Honors’ Night (June) honors all FYC graduating 8th and 12 grade students. The Melvin Ancheta Community Dinner is held December, with the proceeds donated to the San Antonio Elementary School for youth activities.

The Know History-Know Self (held in September) deals with Philippine history and culture.

A six-week summer program has workshops on youth issues. The culminating activity is a three-day camp in which the kids experience full immersion in Philippine culture. Sara said, "They learn to trust each other, the importance of family. They share their hurts and joys, their problems with parents. Every student has a different story, once you share your innermost feelings, you feel like everyone is your family, they become your support group."

Another fun activity is Hiyas, an all-year-round activity in which students learn and present the best of Filipino folk dances. Jeff and Annie Bado are behind this activity.

For the spiritual needs of FYC, there is another Filipino, Dr. Sam Quema, who is a member of FYC’s board of directors.

Important is the FYC’s parent involvement component. Because parents are the primary source of support for the youth, FYC said that parents are involved in cultural parenting workshops, an annual teen-parent conference on health issues (teen pregnancy and abortion are discussed) and academic mediation services.

In many cases, students’ problems are home-oriented, Sara said. This arises from the Filipino parents’ traditional behavior expectations (respect for elders, not answering them back, etc.) and the culture in America where students are taught to speak up and be independent. The workshops help parents and children thresh out differences.

FYC is funded by the BEST (Bringing Everybody’s Strengths Together), and the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force (MGPTF) program of City Mayor Susan Hammer. These two programs, said Sara, are regarded as the reasons why "San Jose City is the safest big city in America."

And the FYC, Sara admitted, is one of the best service providers for the young people of San Jose.

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My e-mail: [email protected]