BEN SERRANO
Contributing editor
ROSARIO, AGUSAN DEL SUR—At least 16 persons were initially reported to have fallen ill while another one was diagnosed to have liver cancer and the culprit, alleged chemical spray from a nearby oil palm plantation here.
Also in this town, in Barangay Sta. Cruz where there are four gold processing plants operating while new ones are now being built including a 300-toner ore crasher, mixer and cyanide-laced gold processing plant, residents living near said plants were complaining of the occurrences of fish kills, plants and animal diseases.
They complained a dozen of their domesticated animals like working Carabaos of which they used in their daily faming activities have already perished.
Some 100 coconut trees near said processing plants which may have absorbed toxic cyanide acid and mercury wastes emitted from said plants have showed yellowish discoloration experiencing low coco fruit harvest for months now with leaves already slowly to dry and fall.
Landowners Sotera Inchoco who is former Barangay Captain and Francis Inchoco claimed at least a dozen of their coconut trees, domesticated animals like goats and carabaos have already died.
They alleged toxic wastes emitted from nearby processing plants some producing foul odor were to be blamed. They suspect toxic wastes were dumped into creeks unknowingly to them.
“I took pictures of plenty of fish floating dead at the Tag-anawan creek and attached the photos with my complaint letter I submitted to the Agusan del Sur Provincial Environment Office at the provincial capitol and to Rosario Municipal Council, until now I haven’t heard of their response”, Francis Inchoco told this writer in an interview in the presence of his wife at their home here December 10 afternoon.
Francis’ aunt, Sotera, 71, widow, who owned a separate eight hectare land just across of Francis’ told this writer in a separate interview she now sometimes suffer itchy feet especially when working barefoot in her land.
She suspected overflowing of contaminated Tag-anawan creek which goes to her land caused the death of at least a dozen of her goats who might have drank the contaminated water.
Rosario Municipal Health Office here confirmed rumors of such complaints but claimed affected individuals failed to report their illnesses instead opted to seek medication in Metro Manila.
In an interview, Rosario Municipal Health Office personnel headed by Dr. Rebecca Aquino, Municipal Health Officer told this writer they were only informed that sixteen residents from at least three barangays went to Manila to seek medication after Agusan del Sur Provincial Health Officer 1 Dr. Estefania Nonan informed them three days ago.
All sixteen who have seek medication in Manila were members and officers of the NGEI Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a cooperative of former and present employees of Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation Inc. (FPPI) operating within the municipalities of San Francisco and Rosario, all in the province of Agusan del Sur.
The cooperative, which is composed of Agrarian Reform beneficiaries collectively, owned 3,996.649 hectares of land now used by the Filipinas Palm Oil Plantations for their oil palm plantations.
A check at the NGEI Multi-Purpose Cooperative office in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur identified those who seek medication in Metro Manila as; Rogelio Duterte, Romeo Auha, Pablo Naldoza, Ramil Caores, Osias Dela Vega, Gloria Pequerola, Lorna Daquio, Anastacio Demafelis, Andreso Numeron, Neria Alagon, Jesus Ayaton, Panfilo Duarte, Jr., Dominador Galano, Juvame Nahine and Engracio Y. Campos.
Record showed they are suffering from different skin and breathing disorder.
Former NGEI Multi-Purpose Cooperative Board of Director and palm oil worker Reynaldo Mendez told this writer he was diagnosed to have liver cancer. He alleged like the others he obtained the disease from exposure to plant spray containing chemicals called gramoxone otherwise known as paraquat.
Weary and sickly Mendez claimed he already spend a fortune for his liver cancer medication and showed proof medical records, laboratory findings and prescriptions.
He claimed he already filed sick leave after his doctors advised him not to work anymore as maintenance palm oil worker.
Contributing editor
ROSARIO, AGUSAN DEL SUR—At least 16 persons were initially reported to have fallen ill while another one was diagnosed to have liver cancer and the culprit, alleged chemical spray from a nearby oil palm plantation here.
Also in this town, in Barangay Sta. Cruz where there are four gold processing plants operating while new ones are now being built including a 300-toner ore crasher, mixer and cyanide-laced gold processing plant, residents living near said plants were complaining of the occurrences of fish kills, plants and animal diseases.
They complained a dozen of their domesticated animals like working Carabaos of which they used in their daily faming activities have already perished.
Some 100 coconut trees near said processing plants which may have absorbed toxic cyanide acid and mercury wastes emitted from said plants have showed yellowish discoloration experiencing low coco fruit harvest for months now with leaves already slowly to dry and fall.
Landowners Sotera Inchoco who is former Barangay Captain and Francis Inchoco claimed at least a dozen of their coconut trees, domesticated animals like goats and carabaos have already died.
They alleged toxic wastes emitted from nearby processing plants some producing foul odor were to be blamed. They suspect toxic wastes were dumped into creeks unknowingly to them.
“I took pictures of plenty of fish floating dead at the Tag-anawan creek and attached the photos with my complaint letter I submitted to the Agusan del Sur Provincial Environment Office at the provincial capitol and to Rosario Municipal Council, until now I haven’t heard of their response”, Francis Inchoco told this writer in an interview in the presence of his wife at their home here December 10 afternoon.
Francis’ aunt, Sotera, 71, widow, who owned a separate eight hectare land just across of Francis’ told this writer in a separate interview she now sometimes suffer itchy feet especially when working barefoot in her land.
She suspected overflowing of contaminated Tag-anawan creek which goes to her land caused the death of at least a dozen of her goats who might have drank the contaminated water.
Rosario Municipal Health Office here confirmed rumors of such complaints but claimed affected individuals failed to report their illnesses instead opted to seek medication in Metro Manila.
In an interview, Rosario Municipal Health Office personnel headed by Dr. Rebecca Aquino, Municipal Health Officer told this writer they were only informed that sixteen residents from at least three barangays went to Manila to seek medication after Agusan del Sur Provincial Health Officer 1 Dr. Estefania Nonan informed them three days ago.
All sixteen who have seek medication in Manila were members and officers of the NGEI Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a cooperative of former and present employees of Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation Inc. (FPPI) operating within the municipalities of San Francisco and Rosario, all in the province of Agusan del Sur.
The cooperative, which is composed of Agrarian Reform beneficiaries collectively, owned 3,996.649 hectares of land now used by the Filipinas Palm Oil Plantations for their oil palm plantations.
A check at the NGEI Multi-Purpose Cooperative office in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur identified those who seek medication in Metro Manila as; Rogelio Duterte, Romeo Auha, Pablo Naldoza, Ramil Caores, Osias Dela Vega, Gloria Pequerola, Lorna Daquio, Anastacio Demafelis, Andreso Numeron, Neria Alagon, Jesus Ayaton, Panfilo Duarte, Jr., Dominador Galano, Juvame Nahine and Engracio Y. Campos.
Record showed they are suffering from different skin and breathing disorder.
Former NGEI Multi-Purpose Cooperative Board of Director and palm oil worker Reynaldo Mendez told this writer he was diagnosed to have liver cancer. He alleged like the others he obtained the disease from exposure to plant spray containing chemicals called gramoxone otherwise known as paraquat.
Weary and sickly Mendez claimed he already spend a fortune for his liver cancer medication and showed proof medical records, laboratory findings and prescriptions.
He claimed he already filed sick leave after his doctors advised him not to work anymore as maintenance palm oil worker.