October 22nd, 2005
The Abra River is beloved to the indigenous peoples and peasants of Northern Luzon. For centuries, it has provided life and bounty to all the land. It is home to diverse species of plant and animal life. It has delivered precious irrigation crucial for the survival of the human population. Historically, it has provided for the advance of trading, transport and communications as well as livelihood for hundreds of underlying villages. It is a key element not only for growth and progress but for life and land itself.
We cannot afford to witness its ruin. The life support systems of the Abra River are rapidly disintegrating . . . The Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation must be held accountable.
Since 1936, Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation has consistently polluted the Mankayan-Abra river system and deforested crucial watersheds.
The udang and igat are becoming rare. Fishes, as far downstream as Quirino, Ilocos Sur, are described to bear abnormalities or kurikong. Bird species identified to be rare or extinct are the pagaw, tuklaw and kannaway.
Volume of rice harvest in areas exposed to drainage from the Lepanto mine tailings dam are reported to be as low as 0.60 tons per hectare.
The collapse of Lepanto Tailings Dam No. 1 in the 1960s spilled onto the ricefields of Nasulian, Paco, Mankayan. In the 1970s, Tailings Dam No. 2 contaminated ricefields of Lipa-an, Paco. In 1986 and 1993, the collapse of tailings dams again occurred.
In 1985, Lepanto operated a copper ore dryer that caused the abnormal withering of crops, death of domestic animals and respiratory disease in the residents.
Acid mine drainage is evident from the reddish-orange discoloration downstream. AMD depletes aquatic life, contaminates drinking water supply and the food chain with dangerous heavy metals such as lead and arsenic.
Residents complain of headache, dizziness, cough, chest pain, irritation of the eyes, nose and skin after exposure to tailings-laden river water.
-Highlights of the Environmental Investigatory Mission, September 2002
Entry Filed under: Announcement
The Abra River is beloved to the indigenous peoples and peasants of Northern Luzon. For centuries, it has provided life and bounty to all the land. It is home to diverse species of plant and animal life. It has delivered precious irrigation crucial for the survival of the human population. Historically, it has provided for the advance of trading, transport and communications as well as livelihood for hundreds of underlying villages. It is a key element not only for growth and progress but for life and land itself.
6 Comments Add your own
1. Nerita Balacday Gouw | October 28th, 2005 at 4:33 am
Makikaysaak kadaguiti mayat a mangisalbar ti Karayan Abra ngem saludsudek man apo no kasano a makatulong kami nga addat adayo a Lugar?Manmano ak a makaawid iti ilik nga Manabo ngem no adda gunglo a masueldoan a magilablaban iti daytoy a kaso ket siaayat ken sipupuso ak a mangted laengen iti donasyon.
Mrs.Nerita B. Gouw
2. Nerita Balacday Gouw | October 28th, 2005 at 4:45 am
Please give me details to Whom or what Organization i should remit my donation in Saving Karayan Abra.
Sincerely Yours,
Mr.& Mrs. Willem/Nerita Gouw
Maui Court Unit 212,Waikiki Condominium
Tanjung Aru Beach Drive
Kotakinabalu,Sabah, Malaysia
88000
3. SysOp | October 28th, 2005 at 2:49 pm
Hi Mr. & Mrs. Gouw
thank you for your support. You can send your donation directly to STARM Office. the details are HERE
you can also contact them through email abrariver@4d.net or fillup the online form at the CONTACT page.
rgds
4. Salacnib | November 16th, 2005 at 1:21 pm
Apo SysOp can we make the articles Printer Friendly no adda pannakabalin na apo? Thank you.
5. Arnulfo B. Pascioles, Jr. | March 22nd, 2006 at 9:30 pm
I am a new member of the Abrenian.com and in my browsing, I just can’t help but notice that the latest comment posted for STARM was last November 2005. Apayen apo! If true, then I can only conclude that the STARMovement is not getting enough support as it should be! Aside from monetary contributions, may I know in what other way can I contribute to this?
Abra River. I once swimmed in there. I once drank water from it. In a way, it once have touched my life. How can I let it die just like that?
6. Arnulfo B. Pascioles, Jr. | March 22nd, 2006 at 9:33 pm
I am a new member of the Abrenian.com and in my browsing, I just can’t help but notice that the latest comment posted for STARM was last November 2005. Apayen apo! If true, then I can only conclude that the STARMovement is not getting enough support as it should be! Aside from monetary contributions, may I know in what other way can I contribute to this?
Abra River. I once swimmed in there. I once drank water from it. In a way, it HAS once touched my life. How can I let it die just like that?
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed