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With the simultaneous sampling made on the three rivers (Binictican, Boton, and Malawaan Rivers) by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) DENR Region 3 Water Division together with two independent-DENR accredited laboratories namely, Intertek Testing Laboratory and CRL Environment Corp. Laboratory, no traces of chromium hexavalent in any of the said three rivers sampled was found. These three testing laboratories yielded the same result, Chromium Hexavalent is NOT DETECTED in the three rivers.

Furthermore, there has been no traces of this contaminant or any contaminant found in these rivers used as source of potable water based on regular testing and analyses as submitted to the Department of Health.

EMB-DENR Region 3 tested the three rivers last year as a requirement to the official classification project mandated under the DENR Administrative Order No. 34. The classification of the three rivers was requested by the SBMA Ecology Center. In the public hearing, EMB officials stated that another sampling was needed to be carried out to validate the initial results that were gathered last year.

Since then, independent City laboratory, ITS Laboratory, have sampled and analyzed the three Freeport Rivers for two consecutive months (September to October). Test results remain the same, “NOT DETECTED” for chromium hexavalent.

Now, result from the recent simultaneous sampling carried out last November 9, 2004 as requested by EMB-DENR Region 3 with the two independent laboratories, again remains the same, “NOT DETECTED” for chromium hexavalent.