Published April 8, 2021, 4:44 PM
DAVAO CITY – The cleanup operations of the contaminated 24-kilometer Naboc River in the mineral-rich town of Monkayo, Davao de Oro has finally commenced after a year of being put on hold due to the pandemic.
In a statement Monday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 11 (Davao region) said “the river’s high content of hazardous chemicals such as mercury, cyanide, and fecal coliform has exceeded the water quality standards for Class C Rivers which can be attributed to the illegal ore processing plant operations in the upstream of the said barangay.”
The dredging of the river started last March 12 in Barangay Naboc, Monkayo. The DENR said the launching was attended by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu and officials from the provincial government of Davao de Oro and the DENR central and regional offices.