From Acupan to Agno River

September 27, 2014

From Engr. Gabriel Pamintuan:

It was fun revisiting a place where I first worked as a student back in the 80s; Acupan and Balatoc are now a far cry from when I last saw them this close (I visited the Balatoc Mine Museum a few years ago), with all the small-scale mining activities . . .

Yesterday, we traced the Ambalanga River to Agno, from Acupan to almost Binga Dam, in half a day, with some sampling and sightseeing on the side; along the way, a big bridge usually means a sampling point (and perhaps, some photo ops) to the project staff . . .

Fieldwork August 20, 2014

August 20, 2014

The Project B team went to three different sites for the assessment of water quality in streams, rivers and springs. Team 1 (Angelo, Mark and Jayson) went to the usual sampling sites at the Bued River for water and sediment samples to be collected and tested for heavy metals, nitrates and phosphates. Team 2 (Lea and Sidd) trekked the mountains at Tuba Benguet to reach into the springs to get samples of groundwater. The springs they visited are sources of drinking water for most part of Camp 3, 4, 5 and 6. Team 3 (Augie, Ceidge and Reygie) went to the new site at Itogon Benguet to conduct...

Project B Team to conduct site assessment at Itogon Benguet

August 15, 2014

The Project B team will go to the small scale mining community in Itogon Benguet to conduct site assessment for the possible sampling sites for surface water and sediment sampling. Accessibility to the five tributaries identified that drains to the Agno River is a major deciding factor to the location of sampling points. We intend to get more sampling points for monitoring to help improve the quality of our modeling and simulation. The site is also where the new technology on gold-copper processing without the use of toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide.

Project B Team to Conduct Coordination Meeting with Agencies on the Agno River Study

July 20, 2014

The Project B Team will go to Itogon, Benguet to conduct coordination meetings with the following partner agencies on how to implement the Year 2 of the Project. The team is planning to visit the following: DENR-EMB CAR, DENR-MGB CAR, Office of the Mayor (Municipality of Itogon), Barangay Officials for the assessment and reconnaisance survey of accessible sites for water sampling and monitoring of the upland section of the Agno River. The team intends to coordinate with the Agno River Basin Commission with office in Pangasinan. The team is also scheduled to conduct a fieldwork at the Bued...

Liwliw Creek

July 19, 2014

Liwliw Creek is one of the important tributaries of the Bued Watershed. The upstream section is where the small scale mining activities such as ore processing are abundant. Sediment load coming from the Liwliw Creek is quite high based on turbidity and TSS measurements done by the team. This may have been caused by the erosion from sides due to mining excavations and more even from the high sediment loaded wastewater from small mining processing plants.

"Walang rumaragasang ilog, sa buwis buhay na project leader"

Buwis Buhay Fieldwork @Bued River

July 18, 2014

Last year, we conducted several 'buwis buhay' fieldwork to monitor the quality of surface waters of Bued River which passes through a small scale mining community. In one fieldwork, the team has to climb up and down 'apat na bundok' to collect wastewater samples, passing though dangerous ravines, cliffs and missing falling rocks.

Eto kami eh! We just love the danger that goes with our fieldwork! Next fieldwork is for the mighty Agno River. It's BIGGER, it's longer, it's more exciting!

Go team!

minersprojectb

DOST Project on the Monitoring and Transport Modeling of Heavy Metals in Surface Waters nearby Mining Communities in Benguet

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