Buru-un, Iligan City was featured on GMA-7's Imbestigador (Investigator), a tv news program in Philippines, last saturday, June 14. It was about an epidemic that hit Purok 13, Barangay Buruun, Iligan City. It has been reached to Imbestigador in Manila about their problems. The problem started when the Platinum Group Metals Corporation started its operation 2 yrs ago. Since then the residents of Purok 13 has experienced cough, skin allergies and diseases like contact dermatitis, other problems like air and water pollution. They suspected that PGMC was behind these. So the Imbestigador team flew to Iligan City and started the investigation. It was found out that the sea water was polluted, it contains nickel which the plant produces and the air was polluted too. The smoke from the plant caused air pollution that made plants to die and caused coughs among the residents. The nickel present in the water causes the skin allergies, if there's more amount of it, can cause cancer. They talked to the chairman and owner of the plant, Ramon Atayde and admitted that they have lapses. According to them, they lacked air pollution control devices and their filters were being fabricated still. But isn't it a requirement on the Environment Compliance Certificate for a plant to operate? Hence, the plant has been suspended while the investigation is still going on. Surely it was a sad news for the employees but a good news for those who have suffered. As for the residents , help has been sent to them. The city health office gave free antibiotics and other medications. Hope everything will be fine. Clean water and air is very important. A salute to Barangay Captain Glenn A. Quijoy and his Council for never letting this one pass. Kudos!
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