Check structural integrity of Marcopper dams, ponds: petition
by Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com
MANILA - Netizens are asking the government to review the structural integrity of the dams and ponds abandoned in Marinduque by the Marcopper Mining Corp. More than 4,500 have signed a petition started by Jonathan Subagan on Change.org, which says 87,000 lives are at stake should the dams collapse.
Subagan is from Marinduque.
“Tanggalin po ninyo ang pangamba sa puso ng ating mga mamamayan. Labingwalong (18) taon na po ang nakalipas ng nasira ang Tapian Pit at halos dalawamput-isang (21) taon naman ng bumigay ang Maguila-guila Siltation Dam. Kamusta po kaya ang integridad ng mga napabayaang dams na ito?” the petition read.
The petition recalled the 1996 “nightmare,” which some tagged as one of the world’s most horrifying mining disasters. In March that year, 2 to 3 million tons of mine waste leaked into the Boac River, a source of livelihood for many families in Marinduque.
Flash floods isolated villages, some were buried in mine tailings. Residents complained of health risks, but Marcopper insisted the tailings were non-toxic.
Boac River was later declared dead.
“Dulot ng mga nasabing trahedya at panawagan ng mga mamamayan, nagsarado ang Marcopper Mining Corporation at umalis ng bansa ang Placer Dome na siyang nagmamay-ari nito. Naiwan sa Marinduque ang mga dams ng minahan na ngayon ay nagbabadya ng panganib sa buhay at kabuhayan ng mga mamayan ng Marinduque,” the petition read.
No less than the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that flash floods may continue to inundate several towns in the province because of the structures “in imminent danger of collapsing.”
“Nito lamang nagdaang Agusto 26, 2014 ay nakaranas ang bayan ng Poblacion, Boac, Marinduque ng hanggang dibdib na baha na dulot lamang ng isang Low Pressure Area (LPA) malapit sa Alabat, Quezon. Ang itinuturong dahilan ng mabilis na pag-baha ay ang makikipot na daluyan ng tubig papalabas ng Poblacion,” Subagan noted. - ABS-CBNnews.com
From Change.org Facebook page: SIGN THE PETITION www.change.org/neveragain
Subagan is from Marinduque.
“Tanggalin po ninyo ang pangamba sa puso ng ating mga mamamayan. Labingwalong (18) taon na po ang nakalipas ng nasira ang Tapian Pit at halos dalawamput-isang (21) taon naman ng bumigay ang Maguila-guila Siltation Dam. Kamusta po kaya ang integridad ng mga napabayaang dams na ito?” the petition read.
The petition recalled the 1996 “nightmare,” which some tagged as one of the world’s most horrifying mining disasters. In March that year, 2 to 3 million tons of mine waste leaked into the Boac River, a source of livelihood for many families in Marinduque.
Flash floods isolated villages, some were buried in mine tailings. Residents complained of health risks, but Marcopper insisted the tailings were non-toxic.
Boac River was later declared dead.
“Dulot ng mga nasabing trahedya at panawagan ng mga mamamayan, nagsarado ang Marcopper Mining Corporation at umalis ng bansa ang Placer Dome na siyang nagmamay-ari nito. Naiwan sa Marinduque ang mga dams ng minahan na ngayon ay nagbabadya ng panganib sa buhay at kabuhayan ng mga mamayan ng Marinduque,” the petition read.
No less than the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that flash floods may continue to inundate several towns in the province because of the structures “in imminent danger of collapsing.”
“Nito lamang nagdaang Agusto 26, 2014 ay nakaranas ang bayan ng Poblacion, Boac, Marinduque ng hanggang dibdib na baha na dulot lamang ng isang Low Pressure Area (LPA) malapit sa Alabat, Quezon. Ang itinuturong dahilan ng mabilis na pag-baha ay ang makikipot na daluyan ng tubig papalabas ng Poblacion,” Subagan noted. - ABS-CBNnews.com
***
 Sanay ka ba sa baha? Kakaiba ang takot na nararamdaman ng mga Tiga-Boac at Mogpog, Marinduque. Kahit walang bagyo, abot dibdib na ang baha. Nangangamba sila na senyales itong malapit nang gumuho ang dalawang napabayaang toxic mine waste dams na makakaapekto sa buhay at kabuhayan ng 87,000 tao. Mismong US Geological Survey at DENR Mines Geosciences Bureau ang nagsabi, napakalaki ng posibilidad na mangyari ito. - Jonathan Subagan, Petition Starter, Never Again Campaign. You can support the call to check the structural integrity of Marcopper Dams and protect 87,000 Marinduquenos from an impending tragedy by signing www.change.org/NeverAgain |
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