Cong. Lord Allan Velasco of the Lone District of Marinduque recently paid a courtesy visit to Sec. Roy Cimatu of the Department and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Velasco expressed his concern over the present condition of the structures left by the Marcopper Mining Corporation in Marinduque and the need to address the structural breaches in the mines and the dams at the old mining site.
Twenty years after the Macropper Mining disaster, these structures still pose an immediate threat to the life and health of the residents of Marinduque.
The Congressman also brought up the matter concerning rehabilitation of the affected areas. Cimatu expressed his strong support towards the effort to rehabilitate and clean-up of the critical areas involved and agreed to allocate resources of the Department on the matter.
Velasco also pushed for the development of the Bamboo Industry in the island-province, expounding on the benefits of bamboo to the environment and how it could help the people as a means of livelihood.
Cimatu commended the Marinduque Representative for an earlier initiative in connection with the 40@40 project (40,000 bamboo plants on Velasco's 40th birthday). The DENR secretary gave his commitment to support the same through the National Greening Program.
As chairman of the House Committee on Energy, Cong. Velasco likewise requested the DENR Secretary to look into the potential of Nipa as additional shore protection and marine sanctuary, aside from its potential as a source of biofuels feedstock.
