The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) MIMAROPA Region launched the second phase of the rehabilitation project for the abandoned Palawan Quicksilver Mines Incorporated (PQMI) on Friday, February 22, at the project site in Brgy. Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City.
Engr. Rolando de Jesus, MGB MIMAROPA Regional Director, said that one of the challenging parts in the rehabilitation process is how to treat the mercury-contaminated water and the relocation of the remaining seven families within the 10-meter buffer zone.
“Yung challenging talaga na part ay yung pag-address sa mercury contamination dagdag pa yung seven families pa na hindi pa na-relocate. Nasa around 29 families sila and now may seven families pang ayaw umalis kahit na nabigyan na sila ng City Government ng relocation site and relocation money na 10,000“ said de Jesus.
He asked for the cooperation of the remaining families since it is for their health reasons, “Sana maintindihan ng mga tao na hindi natin sila pinapaalis dahil lang gusto natin sila paalisin kaya natin sila nirelocate. Hindi naman sila pinabayaan kaya sana naman maintindihan nila ito na yung pinakarason naman nitong project ay hindi lang pagpapaganda but also for their health reason,” de Jesus said.
Engr. Alvin Requimin, PQMI Rehabilitation Project Manager, in a press release of MGB said, that the work program for the 15-million project funds is almost accomplished based on the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the MGB MIMAROPA Region and the City Government of Puerto Princesa.
The projects included in the second phase to be funded with P15 million are the putting up of a hanging bridge, construction of a monitoring station with comfort room, initial landscaping and installation of path walk, and planting of metallophytes and various ornamental plants within the periphery of the pit lake.
Palawan Quicksilver Mines Incorporation (PQMI) together with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) made quarterly monitoring to asses not only the pit lake but also nearby water bodies and resources.
“Actually we are also conducting a study sa tagburos kasi may exit water ito eh doon sa tagburos river so it finds its way to the bay kaya nagkaroon kami ng testing din doon kaya nga dapat maistop namin yung outflow ng water kasi nga in case that it will finds its way to the tagburos river dapat treated na,” said De Jesus.
He highlighted also that phase two of the rehabilitation will be more on research, on how to treat the mercury-contaminated water and that they are collaborating with other government agencies.
“Ang research ay matagal na proseso yan step by step, siguro it will take mga 2 years or maybe a year pero mas gusto natin as much as possible, the shorter the better. Ang pinakamahirap po talaga dito ay ang pag treat sa mercury contaminated water. I am optimistic that there will be a solution in this kaya nakikipagtulungan tayo sa mga expert sa water treatment katulad ng Department of Science and Technology, sa University of the Philippines din, yung Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation at may iba pa,” said De Jesus.
Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron, mentioned the plans of the City Government of buying a spade trucks (specialized machine that mechanizes the transplanting of large tree) to transfer the balayong trees along the national highways that will be affected on road widening and some of the balayong trees will be transferred in the area, beside the pit lake.
“Bumibili ang City Government ng Spade Truck, hydraulic na hinuhukay yung puno. Marami kasing balayong trees sa tabi ng highway na tatamaan ng widening yun yung tinatarget namin. Nai-bid na yung spade truck na yan but it will take 4 months daw dahil imported yung mechanism yan at kapag ito ay operational na isa ito sa mga tataniman natin ng malalaki nang Balayong trees na makikita sa national highway nang sa ganoon mas madadali syang mamumulaklak,” said Bayron.
Edgar Esoy, Barangay Captain of Sta. Lourdes, expressed his appreciation of the Provincial and City governments, MGB and those concerned agencies who made the rehabilitation project possible.
“Salamat sa project po na ito na sinimulan at sa patuloy na pagdidevelop nito. Ang barangay council ng Sta. Lourdes ay nagpapasalamat pati ang mga mamamayan ng Barangay Sta. Lourdes ay nagpapasalamat, hindi na sila magagawi sa lagoon dahil may bakod na sana ay malagyan pa ng guwardiya para yung mga hayop hindi makapunta dyan sa lagoon” said Esoy.
Engr. Rolando de Jesus added that they are looking forward that the abandoned mining site will be converted into an ecotourism site. “Mining is just temporary land use after mining may other use naman sya hopefully it will be added in the tourist destination menu of the city of Puerto princesa in the future at maging isang ehemplo sa ating bansa na ang isang mining project ay pwede pang maging kapaki-pakinabang later on,” said De Jesus.
Engr. Alvin Requimin also disclosed that additional 10-million project fund is expected to be downloaded this year to support the continued rehabilitation of the abandoned mining site.
Meanwhile, the City Council of Puerto Princesa approved a P2-million counterpart funding for 2019 for the care and maintenance of the project site. Palawan-based mining companies also pledged support to this initiative even after the expected turnover.
The proposed program of work for the P10-million project fund include earth works, electrical works, additional construction of three-meter wide concrete pathway and fence to contain the 60m-wide abandoned national road, installation of water system, repainting of the existing inner and outer fence, and construction of driveway parking and mini-information center building construction.