http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul04/envi1.html
By REINIR PADUA

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes yesterday ordered an investigation of alleged mercury contamination of a river in Nueva Vizcaya and widespread illegal fishing in La Union.
Reyes issued the order after receiving reports that local folks of Barangay Didipio in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, may have to be displaced due to mercury contamination of the Didipio river. The pollution was reportedly due to the mercury used by small-scale miners in the area.

Some 300 fishermen residing in 10 coastal villages of the municipality in Sto. Tomas, La Union, have asked the town’s council and Coast Guard to stop the operations of big commercial fishing vessels and dynamite fishers within the town’s 15-kilometer fishing zone.

Reyes directed regional officials of the DENR to take action against the companies and persons responsible for the damage of natural resources in the area.

Reyes gave assurance that DENR would strictly enforce regulations against pollution of the environment in mining, fishing and other industrial and agricultural activities.

“Sustainable development is not necessarily incompatible with a clean and healthy environment. Our job is to strike an ideal balance between economic development and a nourishing environment, one that would protect the health, well-being and livelihood of the citizenry,” Reyes said in a statement.

Reyes noted that DENR has earlier taken action on the mine tailings spills from a mining site on Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay, which allegedly caused some fish kills in the sea off Sorsogon.
DENR said Lafayette Philippines, Inc. has paid a fine and is now taking remedial measures to prevent a repetition of the incident.

DENR has allowed Lafayette to undertake test operations for 30 days before being allowed to resume its mining operations on a permanent basis.

“All industrial, commercial and individual activity having to do with the utilization of our mineral and other natural resources, including forests, must comply with the laws and regulations for the protection of the environment,” Reyes said.