Semirara folk score pollution of coastal resources

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in Semirara Island in Antique province decried the pollution of their coastal resources from wastes supposedly coming from coal mining operations on the island. Online news site The News Today (www.thenewstoday.info) reported that residents of Sitio Bigo of Barangay Alegria are now seeking help from environmental groups. "We have sought action from local officials and repeatedly called the attention of the company. But the problem persists," said village chief Ronald Lavega of Alegria. He lamented the pollution has persisted despite a letter sent to Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. last September. The island is host to 21 mangrove species or 60 percent of the total 35 species of mangroves in the country, according to scientists specializing on mangroves. Mangroves and marine resources there are still recovering from a massive oil spill that hit the area on December 2005 Some 113 hectares of mangrove forests were contaminated after a power barge of National Power Corp. (Napocor) ran aground 200 meters from the island, spilling some 364,120 liters of bunker fuel off the coast of the island. In a letter to Atienza dated September 2008, the residents alleged that coastal resources including mangroves have died or have been contaminated by wastes from the coal washing plant of the Semirara Mining Company (SMC). SMC has been operating one of the biggest coal mines in Asia for more than 20 years on the 5,500-hectare Semirara Island. The report said Semirara is one of the nine islands comprising Caluya town in Antique at the northern end of Panay Island. In a petition, the residents said their livelihood has been affected because the coal wastes have contaminated the water and marine resources. Lavega said at least 100 residents had signed the petition. "A wide area of our seas where we depend our livelihood is slowly being destroyed because hectares of our mangroves and seagrass are slowly dying," they said in their petition. Residents said silt has covered their coastline and mangroves as waste coming from the company's coal washing plant goes directly to the sea because the siltation pond has not been operational. The washing plant would have removed soil and rock coal before it is utilized or marketed. Also, Lavega said mangrove trees have already died because the silt that has covered the waters has reached more than a foot deep. "The residents here rely on fishing, shell gathering and seaweed farming for their livelihood. We would naturally be affected if the waters and plants are polluted," he said. The village has around 1,300 residents with most of them affected by the alleged contamination of the coastline and marine resources. Residents had asked the DENR in their letter to help them by transferring or repairing the coal washing plant. They also sought the implementation of a rehabilitation program for the affected areas and provide alternative livelihood for the residents. Also, the residents are seeking indemnification from the company and other measures provided by the law. For his part, Atienza said he is unaware of the issue but said he will look into it. Lavega said around five hectares of mangroves have been affected. But he said that last week, the company bulldozed the area with dead and dying mangroves and planted coconut trees there. He said a sign declaring the area has also been put up and is now off limits to residents. "They do not want the public to see the dead mangroves and we have not been allowed to go near the area because it is already guarded," he said. - GMANews.TV