Ipilan Nickel Corporation has cited the growth of lobsters beside its causeway in Barangay Ipilan, Brooke’s Point, as evidence against claims that the surrounding water is polluted.
Mine and Environment Protection and Enhancement Officer Rachelle Buna said the company placed lobster fry beside the causeway last year to serve as bioindicators of water quality.
She said the company’s biodiversity section monitors fish and lobsters in the area every week, following claims that lobsters could no longer survive there because of contamination.
“So last year, naglagay kami ng lobster fry diyan mismo sa causeway, at so far sa ngayon, yung pinakamalaking lobster diyan ay nasa 11 to 12 inches and ready to harvest na,” Buna said.
“And every week, the biodiversity section is conducting weekly monitoring ng mga fish, and one of the areas is doon sa may mga lobster kasi noong previous years, sabi nila, yung mga lobster daw ay hindi na nabubuhay diyan kasi contaminated and polluted na yung tubig,” she added.
Aside from using bioindicators, Buna said Ipilan Nickel conducts monthly water sampling at the causeway, while a multipartite monitoring team carries out its own tests every quarter.
Lab results, she stressed, are within the standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“Doon sa causeway, meron kaming water sampling na kino-conduct every month, and every quarter naman ay kino-conduct naman ng multipartite monitoring team. So far naman, based on laboratory results, lahat ng parameters are within DENR standards. Ibig sabihin, yung water quality diyan is healthy,” she said.
Resident Mine Manager Alex Arabis supported this, asserting that the cages show that lobsters can thrive near the causeway.
He said they considers this as an indication that the water is clean and conducive for marine life.
“This proves that the area is very conducive to marine life and that the water beside our causeway is clean,” Arabis said.
He also said lobster farmers near the causeway were not displaced but relocated farther from the structure for security reasons.
The cages of about 31 lobster growers were transferred before construction began.
The relocation was conducted in coordination with the community, barangay officials, and the Municipal Agriculture Office.
Arabis said the affected growers were compensated for the relocation and their projected income for eight months.
“Nagkaroon ng dialogue and nagkaroon ng alternative programs. Nilipat lang sila nang kaunti. They were properly compensated. Kinompute ang kanilang paglipat, how much it would cost, and yung kanilang income for the next eight months,” he said.
Arabis added that the presence of lobster growers and other fisherfolk provides another basis for assessing the water condition near the causeway.
He also disputed claims that the water causes skin irritation, citing workers who regularly enter the water to repair fishnets and sea curtains.
“So there is a comparison to prove na kapag sinasabing wala nang nahuhuli diyan, meron kaming regular documentation on a monthly and quarterly basis kung ilan yung isda na nahuhuli at anong klaseng isda,” he explained.
“Kung naririnig ninyo na yung tubig daw ay nakakakati, halos araw-araw naman yung mga tao diyan na nag-aayos ng fishnets at sea curtains na nagsasabing hindi naman harmful yung tubig,” he added.
