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COTABATO CITY: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) declared
the waters of Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur province as toxin-free.
This, after the BFAR-ARMM
discovered on September last year that portions of the lake had been
contaminated with “cyanobacteria” or blue-green algae toxin.
Torrential rains, coupled by the
wanton disposal of both human waste and other materials by people
living around the lake caused the water contamination in the past,
BFAR-ARMM deputy director Janice Musali said during a press
conference here this week.
However, she said recent water
sample tests they conducted on the lake revealed the non-presence of
toxins.
Musali lauded the joint efforts
of local officials and nongovernment organizations in the area in
disseminating information and at the same time educating residents
along the lake on the ill effects of contaminating the water of the
lake.
In related development, officials
in Marawi City recently signed an agreement with United States
Assistance Agency for International Development-Environmental
Governance (USAID-EcoGov) Project and the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources–Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DENR-ARMM)
over a new solid waste management program.
The agreement came about
following US Ambassador Kristie Kenney’s visit to Marawi City in
October 2006 to meet with the Philippine Muslim Women’s Council to
affirm the US government’s support for the conservation of Lake
Lanao.
Marawi City is burdened by
mounting garbage problems, which also threatens the well being of
Lake Lanao that is a principal source of power, water and food for
the city and the province of Lanao del Sur.
The USAID-EcoGov-facilitated
solid waste management undertaking focuses on diverting 25 percent
of Marawi City’s waste to recycling and composting.
--PNA
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