DENR probes discoloration of Iponan River in Cagayan de Oro

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has moved to assess and investigate the damage on Iponan River in Cagayan de Oro caused by illegal hydraulicking activities upriver.

Regional Director Alfredo Relampagos said the team would study what has been causing the discoloration of the river’s water.

They would also try to find effective solutions to the recurring siltation and sedimentation problems of the Iponan River.

Hydraulic mining involves the use of high-pressure jets of water to separate dirt, sediments, from ores.  The process is usually used in gold mining.

Relampagos said it appeared that the illegal miners who drilled near the river have been throwing their slurry to the water, contaminating it and increasing the sediments in the river bed.

The river, one of the major estuaries in the region, traverses towns in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, and Misamis Oriental.

It has overflowed during heavy rains and communities have complained of water contamination in the past.

The DENR Region 10 said it has tapped members of church and non-government organizations to get to the bottom of the environmental disaster.

Furthermore, the DENR said it has also tapped mines and local government officials to help them in their investigation.