BULAN, Sorsogon- The House committee on environment is set to request the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to temporarily lift the cease and desist order imposed on the Lafayette Philippines. Inc, which operates the Rapu-rapu mining in Albay, the committee’s vice-chairman said.

        Rep. Jose Solis (2nd District- Sorsogon), though, refused to call it temporary lifting of the CDO but said he will ask DENR Sec. Angelo Reyes to allow the commissioning of Lafayette’s plant to check if it is already compliant to the conditions set by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

        “As far as the committee is concerned, we would like to test the system to know if indeed it has already complied to the standards imposed by the DENR,” Solis explained.

        The committee vice chair said that during the test colored water will be used to see if there would be leaks and to see where the effluents go.

        He, however, clarified that the commissioning does not mean that Lafayette would already be allowed to operate but only to test run their system.

        “If the system proves safe in all aspects, especially to environment, then there is no reason why we should oppose its resumption,” he added.

        But the solon gave emphasis to the environmental as well as human safety that must be complied with if ever mining operation would be allowed again.

        Solis said the committee welcomes the report of the independent commission, which is also investigating the Lafayette mining, but added that its report would still undergo evaluation by the committee.

        The commission, headed by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, had reset to May 26 the presentation of its final report. Bobby Labalan