River turns brown in mountain mentioned in Duterte's 3rd SONA

The Naboc River has turned brown due to large-scale mining operations in Mt. Diwalwal in Compostela Valley.

"Matagal na 'yan since start pa ng mining sa Mt. Diwalwal, 1980s pa. Lahat ng mga planta doon, lahat ng mga waste na tubig nila doon pumupunta sa... 'yung mga mercury niya doon pumunta sa Naboc River. Kaya polluted na masyado," Monkayo Mayor Ramil Gentuyaga said in a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz.

Mt. Diwalwal was specifically mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), saying that mining operations have adversely affected the mountain and the fishing of residents near the said river.

"You can no longer fish in our rivers. It's all contaminated and the color is not even brown or white. It's black. You want to see it? I will invite you. We can go to Diwalwal and the other mining areas," Duterte said.

Gentuyaga said ore obtained in Mt. Diwalwal are being delivered to Barangay Mt. Diwata for laborers to process in a bull mill. They put mercury in it in order to get gold. The wastewater goes directly through the mountain's rivers.

Other miners have used carbon, cyanide and limestone to obtain gold. Some mini-plantations also used tailing pan in order to ensure that only clean water will flow through the river.

"Mayroon na balaod (batas) ngayon na hindi na pa-diretso sa river, mayroon ng balaod sa barangay at munisipyo," said Edgar Bayawa, owner of a mini-plantation.

The local government, through the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Mining Development Corporation, have plans to relocate the area where minerals are being processed.

Involved agencies are eyeing to develop Mabatas as the new location of processing minerals. At present, the place has water supply, but no electricity.

However, some residents are not in favor of it.

"Medyo mahirapan daw sila sa pag-transfer dahil dito lahat ng trabaho nila, 'yung ano pa 'yung kita nila mahina," said Pedro Samillano Jr., chairman of Barangay Mt. Diwata.

Gentuyaga, for his part, expressed support for the plan: "It's due time na ibaba na dito because 'yun talaga ang gusto ni President Duterte since the start na to clean-up the Naboc River. We cannot start to clean up the Naboc River kung may mga planta."

Duterte, in his SONA, ordered miners to "repair mismanaged natural resources" due to their operations, adding that his administration will be imposing new mining policies. —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News