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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The word “Baliangao” is derived from the Visayan term “baling langaw” which

means “how plenty are the flies.” Because of the abundance of fishes offered by the rich

marine diversity of Murcieallagos Bay (www.baliangao.gov.ph), flies swarm to gravitate

the area. Baliangao, Misamis Occidental is considered as the food basket of the province

and any nearby municipalities and cities. Fishing is the major source of livelihood of the

853 residents living along the coastal area of Baliangao. Most of the local people have

traditionally relied on fishing as their main source of living, making their livelihood

vulnerable to the condition of the bay (Nabua et al. 2010). Marine resources from such as

“lato” (Caulerpa lentilifera), shellfish and fish are mass produced and are brought to

Misamis Occidental for agricultural production and marketing. Adopting wet rice

agriculture, beautification, building of furniture and houses, metal craft and weaving were

only few of the things they do to provide and earn money which are due to the abundance

of plant and tree resources. The average catch of the local fishers in 20-30 fishing days

per month is 1-10 kg/day. Thus, it can be safely stated that the marine resources from

Murciellagos Bay is a major source of income for these people (Paredes et.al., 2004).

According to the 2015 Census, it has a population of 17,902 and five of its barangays are

within Murcielagos Bay, namely, Naburos Island, Punta Miray, Punta Sulong, Naburos

Island, Souther Poblacion and Northern Poblacion (Paredes et.al., n.d.).

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Murcielagos Bay is located 123° 33’ 00” E longitude and 8° 39’ 00” latitude and

it falls under the jurisdiction of Region IX and X. It is approximately 6,547 ha

(Fernandez 2004) wide and can be reached through pump boats as well as public and

private vehicles. The Bay is considered as the food basket of Misamis Occidental and

nearby municipalities and cities. The bay is also surrounded with gold rich lands.

According to the reports of the Philippine Mining and Minerals Industry, Northern

Central Mindanao are rich in minerals, one of which is gold. The areas that surround

Murcielagos Bay are rich in minerals, especially gold. This results to the high of gold

mining activities in the area.

In the Philippines, gold mining is also a practice. Gold Mining is the process of

extracting or mining gold from the ground, commonly done by using mercury

(www.definitions.net). Usually, mined materials are those that cannot be grown from

agricultural processes or created artificially. Gold Mining is very destructive to the

environment, and it also uses chemicals such as cyanide. Extracting gold from the ore

may involve the use of a cyanide in which crushed ores are piled in the leaching pads

where the actual process of “Absorption/Desorption-heap-leaching” takes place (Paredes

et.al., n.d.). While as for Mercury (Hg), it is added to form amalgams of varying

consistency to the crushed ore and is allowed to settle until the amalgams float near the

surface. The, it is removed and placed in serving pans to remove to remove other

impurities. The gold can then be separated by burning off the mercury (Gust, n.d.). Then

mine tailings from the gold miners contain a lot of mercury.

Mercury can exist in three chemical forms: Methylmercury, Elemental Mercury

and other inorganic and organic mercury compounds (www.epa.gov). Organic

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compounds of mercury such as methylmercury and dimethylmercury are very toxic.

Mercury is commonly used in gold mining and is needed in manufacturing industrial

chemicals. Mercury causes major environmental problems, one of which is water

pollution. Thus, causing mercury contamination in the water and its living organisms

affects the people who depend on fishes as food and source of income

(www.africageographic.com). Over exposure also to mercury can affect a person’s health

including the organisms exposed to it.

Murcielagos Bay has a high presence of gold which means that it also attracts a

lot of artisanal and small-scale miners. According to Dr, Esdaile and Dr. Chalker,

mercury -dependent small-scale gold miners are the largest source of mercury

contamination in the environment. The high presence of gold in the area has also

attracted large mining companies, such as Philex Mining Corporation. In the late 1980’s

(Fiel, 2001) Philex Mining Corporation created a mining branch in Lalab II, Sibutad,

Zamboanga del Norte. Philex Mining Corporation, throughout its history, has had some

mining disasters and mine spills. Its biggest disaster made was when one of its tailings

storage facility (TSF) no.3 collapsed amid torrential rains, spilling tons of sediment into

the Agno River and Balog Creek (Rappler, 2014). This disaster was also known as the

biggest mine disaster in the Philippines (Dinglasan, GMA News, 2012). Past studies

conducted in Murcielagos Bay have also revealed that gold mining activities have

contributed to the presence of mercury in the area. This means that with the high presence

of gold miners in the area it is prone to experiencing mercury contamination, due to the

mine tailings left.

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The mining activities was at its peak in 1989 (Fiel n.d.), which results to

high amounts of mercury in the area. Due to the many cases and reasons that were placed

against the miners, including the small-scale miners and Philex Mining Corporation, they

were forced to shutdown and stop their mining activities. Studies conducted by Yabo et

al. (2009), Reyes et al. (2010) and Miranda (2011) also showed that through the years the

mercury is still present in the area. Due to the high presence of mercury in the area,

Departments, such as: Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR),

Department Of Science and Technology (DOST), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR) and Department Of Tourism (DOT), have conducted rehabilitation

programs to help lessen the presence of mercury in the area. With the help of the

programs and projects conducted by the Departments and the shutting down of the

mining activities in the area, the mercury has been said to have actually gone down.

Studies have also shown that it has been gradually decreasing.

The evaluation of Mercury (Hg) found in the Horse Mussels (Modiolus

philippinarium Hanley) and attached sediments obtained from Baliangao, specifically

Naburos Island, Punta Miray and Punta Sulong, and confirming the decrease of mercury

present in the area and determining its percentage decrease has encouraged th researcher

to conduct the research study.

Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarium Hanley) were chosen as the subject of the study

because they are known bioindicators that can accumulate pollutant

(www.chebucto.ns.ca); they are found in sediments and they are considered as filter

feeders (Tyler-Walters, 2007). Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarium Hanley) are also

easier to get. The concentration of total mercury accumulated in horse mussels (Modiolus
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philippinarium Hanley) taken from the area will indicate the extent of mercury

contamination.

Objectives

This study was conducted to determine the Mercury (Hg) concentration present in

the Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarum Hanley) and the sediments attached to it

from Naburos Island, Punta Miray and Punta Sulong in the municipality of Baliangao.

It specifically aims to:

1. Determine the Mercury (Hg) concentration present in the sediments attached

to the Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarum Hanley) from Naburos Island,

Punta Miray and Punta Sulong.

2. Determine the Mercury (Hg) concentration present in the Horse Mussels

(Modiolus philippinarum Hanley) from Naburos Island, Punta Miray and

Punta Sulong.

3. Compare the results of this study with a similar study conducted 10 years ago

and identifying the decrease of Mercury (Hg) concentration present.

Significance of the Study

The results would notify the communities in the area that their sediments

and Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarum Hanley) are safe to be exposed to and are

safe to be eaten. The results also notify that all the programs and projects they have done

to lessen the Mercury (Hg) present has taken its effect.

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The results would also benefit the environment including the wildlife present

there. The results tell us that they are safe, which means that the wildlife and any

organism in the environment exposed to them are safe from experiencing mercury

contamination.

This study also benefits agricultural production. Because, it would mean that the

Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarium Hanley) from all the three sampling sites are

safe to be sold are safe to be consumed by others.

Moreover, the study would serve as a basis for other future researchers and

studies and can be a reference for others to conduct studies on the area.

Scope and Delimitations

This study is only delimited to the determination of the Mercury (Hg)

concentration present in the Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarum Hanley) and the

attached sediments that were collected from Naburos Island, Punta Miray and Punta

Sulong, in the municipality of Baliangao. The samples were sent to the University of San

Carlos, Talamban, Cebu City fir analysis. In this study the presence of Mercury (Hg) in

the samples were determined and the results were compared to a similar study conducted

on 2008 (10 years ago) and determine if there is a significant decrease in the Mercury

(Hg) concentration.
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This study is only delimited to determining the Mercury (Hg) content present in

the Horse Mussels (Modiolus philippinarium Hanley) and attached sediments that were

found in the three sampling siites. Determining the age of the Horse Mussels (Modiolus

philippinarium Hanley) and its gender are not included, as well as the temperature and

pH level of water.