LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

Trinidad chicken dung, Bokod mining and Tuba hydro
MARCH L. FIANZA

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- There is now a growing opposition to the sale of chicken dung in La Trinidad, particularly at Shilan, once a clean and green Ibaloi community. The sale of chicken dung according to a group that emailed me their sentiment is sold in open trucks. It is “making our lives miserable as we now suffer from sleepless nights, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea and other respiratory problems that may lead to TB, asthma or lung sickness.

Everyday we live in fear and anxiety with what inhalation of dust and toxic gases from chicken dung can do to our health – its short and long term effects..,” the Anti-chicken dung advocates of Shilan said. Chicken dung trade according to them, which I have personally observed, is conducted near Tacdian Elementary School at the former auto shop of Moites, the Shilan barangay hall, the clinic, beside the Shilan sports arena, and residential areas along the Halsema highway.

At present there are seven parking areas being occupied by 15 big trucks to as many as 50 trucks per parking area. With the volume of chicken dung in thousands of sacks, the condition in the area is expected to worsen at the onset of the dry season. The Shilan anti-chicken dung group apparently did some research as to the effects of the toxic dust on their health. They said that this threatens the health of every member of the community, including those who pass by Shilan everyday such as commuters from nearby towns.

They will be prone to lung problems, TB, asthma, diarrhea and related diseases. Just like the towns of Buguias and Atok where chicken dung is used by farmers as vegetable fertilizers, Shilan and its environs have become breeding places for flies. The group added “chicken dung residue and dust accumulates and flows into the water supplies in the form Nitrate, a by-product in the breakdown of chicken dung. Drinking Nitrate-laced water can lead to cancer of the digestive tract, cancer of the bladder and lymphoma.

This is also possible from inhalation of toxic fumes from chicken dung. The greatest risk of nitrate poisoning is “blue baby syndrome” which may occur in four-month old babies. It causes headache, stupor or comatose, over-fatigue, convulsion, asphyxia, even death. To illustrate the strength of chicken dung toxic residue, it corrodes G.I. sheet roofing in just a couple of years of settling on it. Imagine that is your lungs!”

Aside from the health problems the community has been encountering, open sale of chicken dung has worsened the traffic as truck operators double-parking while selling, loading and unloading sacks of dung right on the road. The heavily overloaded trucks have also damaged the roads. Worst, concerned residents noted that the workers of some karaoke bars here were suspected to be the source of STD or gonorrhea. Cases of unwanted pregnancies, abortions were also reported.

Appealing to the provincial, municipal and barangay officials to unite and help them put an end to the sale of chicken in Shilan before irreparable damage to life and property occurs; they said – “Health is wealth. Not money !” Indeed controlling the sale of chicken dung by legislation just because there is money in it will not help the problem any – it will even worsen because the trading is not being stopped.
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The recent vote conducted by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples on whether or not to give consent to the Columbus Mining Inc. to explore the Bobok area for minerals has proven one thing – giving away Delica automobiles and hundreds of thousands of cash for barangay projects failed to convince the community to vote “yes.” Well, there were 25 of them who were for mining exploration to proceed but this was overtaken by 53 voters who were against. Two voters abstained.

The voting results could have been closer if our request for more extensive information campaign on the pros and cons of mining operations in certain communities such as Bobok was granted. It seems there is a need to amend the process in getting the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) in order that all those concerned are updated. What seems to be happening is that communities are placed in a bind as they are tasked to follow a schedule, whether they are fully informed of the issue or not.

As for the mining companies, there is a need for them to re-study their moves. That includes reconsidering their acts to give “donations” prior to the vote, and to sincerely lay down their cards in order that all affected landowners are able to anticipate what’s in it for them once mining operations commence.
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Bursts of anger by government officials can not be legislated even by the most experienced lawmakers. But there are techniques that may be followed. One, officials should know how to disconnect personal attachments to issues that are submitted for mediation or for resolution to them. Two, although officials are also human beings, they should not be onion-skinned. Three, officials should consider the issues at hand regardless of the people involved. It is a good practice, according to Mao ZeDong, to take away the personalities involved in controversial matters. By doing so, problems are solved based on evidences and facts. That way, shouting matches with any of the parties concerned are avoided – which is seen by observers as the character of a weak leader.

“Makitkitam pay laeng nga sumungsungad djay ada problema na nga kakailiam ket agmuryot kan ken kasla sentensiya am meten gapu ta kalaban mu isuna idi eleksyon.” Iti panagturay ket awan kuma ti personalan, kuna ni Plato, Aristotle, Washington ken Lincoln . Kumusta kayo amin dita Tuba, nangnangruna keni apo mayor Florencio Bentres ken dagita botantes nga taga Asin road. Pasyaren ka maminsan man Pards ta agistorya ta. Merry Christmas to all. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com