Four Zambales towns hit copper mine for pollution

Residents of four Zambales towns have expressed fears that polluted water may flood their towns of the abandoned tailings dam of the Dizon Copper Silver Mines Inc. will collapse.

Earlier, the residents noted that the moribund mining outfit seemed to be encountering difficulties in complying with the directive of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun to initiate remedial measures.

Acting on a complaint filed by Barangay chairman Edgardo Duenas of Buhawen San Marcelino Zambales, a team of experts from the Environmental Management Bureau conducted an on-the spot investigation of the alleged pollution.

The team headed by Environment Director Lormelyn Claudio and Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Arnulfo Cabantog discovered that the water discharge coming from the abandoned open pit and the tailings pond showed high concentration of heavy metals such as copper, cadmium, lead and zinc. They said the heavy metals are polluting lake Mapanuepe, which is a source of fish of the residents.

The team also investigated a report of residents that Juvencio Dizon, father of DCSMI chairman Gary Dizon and owner of Vendiz Drug, transported into the mine site and dumped expired pharmaceutical products some of which were burned.

A notice of violation has been issued by the EMB to VENDIZ Drug and DCSMI.

Duenas also voiced his concern over the danger posed by the tailings dam which he said is on the verge of collapsing due to massive scouring of its embankment and was declared unsafe by Geotechnical Consultants hired by DCSMI.

When contacted, DCSMI assured concerned residents that their engineers are readying a program of action to remedy the situation.