House committee on natural resources summons DENR-MGB officials re fish kill incidents

By Aurora J. Casimpan

Tuesday 29th of May 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 28 (PIA) -- Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the attached agency of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) in Eastern Visayas are to appear before the Congress committee on natural resources next week to shed light on the issue of fish kill incidents in Lake Bito, Brgy. Imelda, MacArthur town in Leyte province.

It was learned that DENR Secretary Ramon Paje is among the officials summoned to appear before the committee on May 29 while MGB regional director Roger de Dios is among the officials summoned at the regional level of the MGB.

The issue of the fish kill incidents recorded to have occurred in March 14 to April and on May 12, all occurring this year have reached the attention of Congress resulting to the issuance of summons of DENR-MGB officials to appear before the House committee on natural resources chaired by Surigao del Norte representative Francisco Matugas.

Environmental and progressive groups in the country and in the region flamed the fish kill incidents on the mining of black sand activity near the area where the fish kills occurred.

The MGB top official in the region confirmed that he will be attending the committee hearing next week. (EOPT/AJC-PIA 8)