Presence of arsenic compound was discovered reportedly near a mining exploration in Pan de Azucar Island in Concepcion town, Iloilo Province deemed a health hazard to the community, according to the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO).

Iloilo PGENRO said that a drill hole is believed to have impinged on underground water table. With this, PGENRO said that presence of arsenic may contaminate water in aquifers.

Arsenic is said to be a type of chemical that is a combination of sulfur and metals.

It is considered highly toxic in its inorganic form, according to the World Health Organization.

Further, the US Environmental Protection Agency in a study summary mentioned that “human inhalation studies have reported inorganic arsenic exposure to be strongly associated with lung cancer, and that ingestion of inorganic arsenic in humans has been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer and also to an increased risk of bladder, liver, and lung cancer.”

To pad any further intrusion on ground water, Iloilo Provincial Government issued a cease and desist order against the exploration.

“Meaning, the depth of the drilling merong groundwater na maaabot. Ang concern namin along the way sa dini-drill down, matatamaan itong arsenic presence na ito which is natural recurring, bababa sa ground water. When arsenic is mixed with groundwater, baka mainom ng mga residente. More so, sa seawater along the coast maapektuhan ang fish habitats or protected area,” Iloilo PGENRO Head, Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco, Jr., said.

Barangays Macatunao, Taloto-an, and Tambaliza in Pan de Azucar Island have already come up with a resolution against the exploration.

The Iloilo Provincial Government supported the opposition.

“Hindi pwedeng walang involvement ang public because we are charged with the natural environment of the province under the Local Government Code and we will continue to be vigilant and level off,” Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. said.

The PGENRO has submitted a report to the Environmental Management Bureau 6 to have the samples validated and to ensure there is no contamination done to the soil and water.

The news team reached out to one of the companies in joint venture on the said mining exploration in Pan de Azucar Island. However, it has not issued a statement yet as of this writing.