Devil-may-care? The provincial board has voted against the MOA, but as some Marinduque provincial officials still race to get the highly controversial contract signed with US lawyers, a third party funder and a Canadian law firm that lawyered for the same company the Marinduque government is running after, DOH-MIMAROPA regional director Eduardo Janairo has sounded the alarm for a contingency plan to mitigate the effects of irresponsible mining in Marinduque.
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| The municipal government of Boac, with Mayor Roberto Madla launched the construction of a two-storey evacuation center in Brgy. Hinapulan during the Marcopper tragedy commemoration on March 24, 2017. Photo: Michaela Ornedo |
DOH-MIMAROPA sees evacuation of Marinduque residents due to Marcopper
“We need to prepare a contingency plan to mitigate the effects of the Marcopper Mining incident and to formulate immediate and concrete solutions to provide the necessary responses to the effects of the four-decade mining incident that has affected the health, livelihood and lives of residents in twenty barangays in Marinduque,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo stated during a recent RIACEH meeting held at the Hive Hotel in Quezon City.
First among the interventions laid was the creation of a Provincial Task Force to track all data and information regarding the effects of the mining for a quicker response.
Second, is the setting up of medical and environmental surveillance system, for the early detection and identification of patients manifesting signs and symptoms of chemical poisoning including the establishment of a two-way reporting system for immediate response, management and treatment of cases.
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| Municipal officials with Bishop Junie Maralit during the unveiling of the marker in Hinapulan commemorating the infamous Marcopper tragedy |
“The recent discovery of leaks in the diversion tunnel of the abandoned Makulapnit Dam in Boac, Marinduque raises fear and public concern and we should all act as guardians of the people, to safeguard not only their health and security but their life as well. Worst case scenario if these concerns are not properly addressed is to evacuate all residents out of the province,” he added.
The RIACEH is a committee headed by the Department of Health Regional Office and composed of fourteen (14) regional offices which aim to work and coordinate jointly on all environment related problems that continuously affect the health and welfare of the people. - DOH Mimaropa/Romblon News
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