Reyes assures Lafayette mining operation is safe

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources assured Saturday stakeholders, NGOs and residents of Albay and Sorsogon that everything has been done to ensure that the mining production at Rapu-Rapu Island will not cause environmental damage. DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes gave the assurance after some sectors, protested Lafayette Corp.’s resumption of the mining activities in Rapu-Rapu Island off Albay and Sorsogon provinces in Bicol. Since July 9, 2006, Lafayette has been conducting test operations in the site to ensure that wastewater discharges would never happen again. Reyes said that in evaluating the test performance of Lafayette, the DENR was guided by the findings of the Rapu-Rapu Fact Finding Commission headed by Bishop Arturo Bastes. The DENR also consulted with scientists and experts from other government agencies, the academe and the science community. DENR consultant Marcelo Bolaño, an NGO leader, said that Lafayette’s dams were safe as of now, preventing further tailings spills. He said that the primary concern should be that the dams fulfill their purpose throughout the project. Thus there is constant monitoring of the dams to ensure that they do not develop any defects. Dr. Carlos Primo David, another consultant of the environment department, said that the acid mine drainage in Rapu-Rapu complies with all existing laws. "This only shows that the government is serious in ensuring that only responsible mining is done in the country. We are willing to go to great lengths to make certain that decisions on mining are transparent, scientific, realistic and complies with the law and regulations," Reyes said. To allay the fears of the critics, Reyes said that the effects of the strongest possible typhoons that might hit the Philippines have already been taken into consideration in the decision to allow Lafayette to resume regular mining production. According to Reyes, aside from financial benefits that the national and local governments could get from the mining operations, the communities adjacent to the mines would also benefit as the mining operations would provide hundreds of jobs to individuals who would thus generate income for their families. Reyes said that the multiplier benefits of the income would be expanded to more schools, more trade and commerce and more agricultural production through greater demand. "The decision to authorize full mining operations in Rapu-Rapu is entirely in accordance with the Mining Act, and with the policy of the government to utilize to the full our natural resources to improve the living standards of our people not only of the present but also of future generations," the DENR chief explained. Reyes, at the same time, appealed to the religious and civic groups in the Albay-Sorsogon region to view more objectively the mining situation and prospects in the area from the standpoint of the general economic and social welfare of the population. -GMANews.TV