MARILAO, Bulacan – Greenpeace activists staged a protest against the dumping of toxic waste into the Marilao River, tagged as one of the world’s 30 dirtiest places, yesterday and blamed the government’s failure to enforce environmental policies for the waterway’s death.
“Government policies failed along with their enforcement,” Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Toxics campaigner, told reporters after Greenpeace activists unfurled a 28-meter long streamer on the Marilao Bridge with the words, “Stop toxic pollution, protect our water resources.”
Other Greenpeace members floated giant rubber fish skeletons in the river as some volunteers in protective suits took water samples for laboratory tests.
Baconguis said, “Toxics pollution killed Marilao River and it is now endangering the lives and livelihood of nearby communities.”
Previous studies showed that heavy metal contaminants found in Marilao River included lead, hexavalent chromium, cadmium, copper and arsenic, which mostly come from factories on the riverbanks.
Baconguis said lead can be inhaled or ingested and can affect the nervous system, while hexavalent chromium found in the effluents of tanneries can cause cancer.
Cadmium and copper, on the other hand, can cause damage to kidneys and bones, and even death, while arsenic can decrease the production of red and white blood cells and damage blood vessels.
Baconguis said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified Marilao River as one of the country’s 50 dead rivers due to pollution, while the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) noted that its water has zero dissolved oxygen level and a high level of organic pollutants.
According to Baconguis, the government should stop the production of materials with toxic substances.
Engineer Ricardo Medina, head of the provincial environment and natural resources office, expressed hope that the declaration of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system as a water quality management area would help synchronize the actions of the local government units and agencies concerned.
“Long-term na ang pagpaplano ngayon, pero yung mga short-term na doables ay gagawin na (The planning now will be long-term, but the short-term doables will be carried out),” Medina told The STAR.
For his part, Marilao Mayor Epifanio Guillermo said they are doing everything to prevent the further degradation of the Marilao River system.
He said they have encouraged residents to organize groups that will help monitor the disposal of garbage in the river.
Since last week, Lito Arellano, head of the Samahang Magkakapitbahay sa Sitio Punong Tulay at Barangay Saog here, said they have been conducting nightly patrols to stop the dumping of waste into the river.
Gov. Joselito Mendoza, meanwhile, said they are committed to clean and improve the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system.
Mendoza said they are still working with Blacksmith Institute, which named the river as one of the world’s “Dirty 30,” and are meeting with Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza in next week’s assembly of stakeholders.