Painted Rocks Might Endanger Water Quality

Murcia, Negros Occidental- The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Negros Occidental have mandated the immediate removal of paint on rocks found in the riverbed at Purok Gayas, Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia.

A video of attractive, colorful rocks in a riverbed within a resort in Murcia and was posted in social media went viral recently. This prompted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thru its field office, the PENRO Negros Occidental, to conduct an investigation and coordination with the Community ENR Office of Bago City – Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, to ascertain the disturbing discovery of what could be a case of vandalism.

“Painting on natural rocks could potentially threaten the water quality of the river,” said Engr. Joan Nathaniel F. Gerangaya, PENR Officer of Negros Occidental.

After the investigation, the team concluded that such an act of painting boulders and rocks with different colors is an act of vandalism, and which could potentially threaten the water quality in the area. Therefore, it is against the law.

PENRO Gerangaya ordered the immediate removal of paint using less harmful solutions like manual brushing or pressure wash from stones and boulders.

“We all wanted to enjoy our environment and its natural beauty, not the painted one. Attracting tourists for potential economic growth should not be an excuse for any resort owner and/or businessman to vandalize and damage our natural resources,” said DENR 6 OIC-Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla.

PENR Officer Joan Nathaniel F. Gerangaya said that whatever the variety of paint used in the river bed in Brgy. Minoyan, the act of painting in flowing bodies of water could potentially affect freshwater and marine life. He also said that this may have been influenced by the painted rocks at Lusaran Dam in Brgy. Lusaran, Cebu City which also went “viral” in August this year.

As of September 25, 2024 the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) investigated the area and enforced provisions of Republic Act 9275, or the Clean Water Act. Furthermore, as this matter concerns the protection and conservation of water, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) was also informed regarding the incident.

All the bodies of water belong to the State including rivers, as provided under the Water Code of the Philippines or PD 1067. As the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, and development of the country’s environment and natural resources, the DENR Region 6 will look into the possibility of giving sanctions to person(s) involved in vandalizing/painting the rocks and boulders at Murcia’s riverbed. /DENR 6