‘Stop illegal mining at Mt. Diwalwal’

A neophyte congressman from Com—postela Valley called for a stop to illegal mining at Mt. Diwalwal as he bewailed that toxic mining wastes since the 1980s have affected water systems, agricultural lands and the health of his constituents.

"Even health workers have been found to have high mercury content in their bodies," Rep. Manuel Zamora said in an appeal during the last confirmation hearing of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez.

Zamora claimed he had to forego an official trip to Canada to voice his concern for the biggest problem plaguing his province.

He cited a 1997 study by Dr. Myrna Mahinay of the Mindanao State University which showed that classical symptoms of mercury poisoning or the "Minamata" disease had started to manifest among small children.

He said most people around Mt. Di—walwal have high levels of mercury in their urine. He estimated that some 5,000 people have died from the mercury-caused malady and other mining-related incidents.

Zamora also revealed the same study found out that plants and agricultural crops like rice, corn, sweet kamote, gabi and bananas have high mercury content.

The solon said mining operations at Mt. Diwalwal have affected the water systems in the provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao, Agusan del Sur and Norte and Butuan City by way of the Naboc River through the Agusan River.

He lamented that while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was quick in closing down mere potential polluters and small offenders, it has kept a deaf ear to the complaints of Compostela farmers and residents about the hazards posed by illegal mining in the past 15 years.

Zamora is one of 20 Mindanao lawmakers opposed to Alvarez’s confirmation.