Mandanas orders probe on lung cancer deaths

BATANGAS CITY — Batangas Gov. Hermilando Man—danas has ordered an investigation into the reported deaths of nine villagers due to lung cancer believed caused by the coal-fired power plants in Calaca town.

Mandanas sent a team of provincial doctors and engineers to verify reports on the supposed mercury contamination from the 300-megawatt Calaca 1 and 2 coal-fired power plants of the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

The health center in Barangay Baclaran in Balayan town was reported to have informed Sen. Robert Jaworski, chairman of the Senate committee on environment, that lung cancer caused the deaths of the nine residents.

But Apolinario Redulla, Calaca’s health officer, said the nine villagers were not in their list.

Redulla, in a report to Calaca Mayor Jerry Katigbak, however, admitted that there have been 29 lung cancer-related deaths in different barangays since 1985.

A Baclaran resident, however, said Redulla should not have reacted to their barangay health center’s report since Baclaran is within the jurisdiction of Balayan town, not Calaca.

Acting on Mandanas’ directive, Dr. Isagani Bolompo, provincial health officer, sent sanitary engineers to Barangay Baclaran to verify the reported deaths.

"I told them to get data not only on the lung cancer victims but also on tuberculosis cases so we can establish the relevance of the reported deaths allegedly caused by the power plants," he said.

Board member Leanda Bolilia, of the province’s fourth district, has authored a resolution directing the provincial health and environment and natural resources offices to investigate the hazardous smoke which the Napocor plants are allegedly emitting.

Bolilia reacted to reports by environmental group Green—peace and the Philippine Institute for Pure and Applied Chemistry of the Ateneo de Manila University that ash samples from the coal-fired plants were found to contain deadly neurotoxin mercury.

"While it is true that the establishment of the power plants in Calaca has contributed to community development, let us not forget that the government only supports sustainable development," the board member said in a statement.

Earlier, Calaca plant manager Henry Alcalde said they have a computerized system to monitor mercury levels.