V.

Impact Assessment and Mitigation (a little introduction)?

Table 42. Environmental components affected its impact and mitigation. Environmental Component Pre-Construction Phase SOCIAL Socio-Economic The project requires the opening of roads covering 19.65 kilometers. Some landowners verbally expressed for the payment of their land and the damages of their crops. Considering the limited project fund, the Barangay Council of Lanipao will directly negotiate with some landowners for the donation of the road right of way. The donation document will be secured and notarized to avoid disruption of project by adverse claims of land. The Barangay Council will also set aside counterpart funds to settle other claims and for other use of the project. Impact Mitigation

Construction Phase SOCIAL People Potential exposure of workers and the people to physical hazards such as slipping, tripping, falling or potential contact with moving equipment, which may result to injuries or loss of life. 1. The project will install appropriate signage along the road. Signboards stating DANGER or other appropriate warning or information will identify risky areas for the safety of workers and the people. Moreover, workers are required to use appropriate personnel protective equipment (PPE). Some project activities may aggravate the health conditions in the direct impact area. People with upper respiratory infection (UPI), pneumonia, and other respiratory ailments will be susceptible to air pollutants generated during the construction phase. Inadequate supply of potable water on-site and lack of sanitation may pose risks of the occurrence of gastrointestinal and communicable diseases among workers on-site. 2. The project will ensure adequate supply of potable water for workers on-site. The contractor should implement proper housekeeping policies during construction activities and inform workers to follow good housekeeping practices in order to minimize sanitation and health problem among them. The project will generate temporary jobs for construction laborers/workers. It will also bring about short-term income generating opportunities for locals during construction work such as vending of food, etc. 3. The contractor will implement local hiring unless technical expertise/skills requirements are not satisfied.

1.

Careful planning of cut and fill and stabilization

of road cuts should be carried out and implemented as efficient and effective measures to minimize the impact of soil erosion. Movement of earth especially during dry months is important to avoid erosion from fresh road cuts and fills that may temporarily cause sedimentation of natural drainage ways. The project will utilize available soil generated from the cut for backfilling and other leveling activities to help control the impact. PHYSICAL Land The project area is mountainous in terms of its topography. Activities such as grading during construction may cause erosion and eventual sedimentation and siltation of Kapai River, Diamond Creek and Mandulog River. Additionally, runoff erosion from unprotected excavated areas during rains may aggravate soil erosion that can silt up nearby creeks and rivers. This impact is assessed to be temporary and moderate. Other potential impact such as solid waste generation from construction waste materials and from workers garbage during the constructed phase will contribute to an unpleasant sight. 2. Measures such as the installation of efficient housekeeping practices during the construction stage particularly the sorting and stockpiling, in an orderly manner, of all construction wastes generated for proper collection and disposal can mitigate the anticipated impact. Heavy equipment operation may increase the ambient noise level within the project area. However, the impact of higher noise level may be short term, intermittent and will be significantly experienced during the construction phase. Moreover, as the distance increases, the noise generated may diminish and attenuate. 3. To reduce disturbance and other noise-related problems, construction equipment will intermittently operate during daytime when needed. This will also lessen the exposure of construction workers to the impact of noise less than eight hours a day. The topography of the area is mountainous, with which the project may cut highly slope areas. Cutting of critical slopes may cause landslide and soil erosion that will eventually silt the creeks and rivers. 4. The project will institute embankment or slope protection measures that include concrete riprap and other reinforced structures

Water

Stockpiles of soil and rock generated during excavation works as well as other construction materials may erode during rains, which would silt up the creeks/rivers along the road route.

1.

The project will institute protection measures to avoid susceptible soil surfaces from eroding and silting the natural drainage. It will install sandbags near waterways to serve as soil barriers during construction. Oil and grease from heavy equipment may spill and will find their way into the rivers forming a thin layer of film on the water surface, which will effectively reduce the rate of reoxygenation. Improper handling and disposal of domestic wastewater by workers on-site can affect the quality of the rivers.

2.

The project will prohibit the maintenance of heavy equipment on site to avoid unnecessary oil spillages. Proper care prevents and avoids accidental spills. It will implement proper sanitation and housekeeping practices to prevent disposal of wastes along creeks and rivers. Measures to undertake the regular sprinkling of water in exposed grounds and stockpiles will effectively control dust. It will regulate the speed of transport facilities inside the construction area. Further, it will require trucking facilities carrying construction materials to cover it with nets and/or canvass materials to avoid slippage along the path.

Air

Increased dust generation is an inevitable occurrence during construction. Winds disturb cut soil and carry fine particles into the atmosphere. Further, vehicles and other trucking equipment that come in and out of the construction site will increase dust generation. Anticipated impact of the dust will be experienced within the primary impact area and will be intermittent and short term.

1.

BIOLOGICAL Flora and Fauna Construction activities such as clearing and grubbing may cause the felling of the trees. Aside from changing land cover that alters the aesthetic view of the place, the activities disrupt of the natural habitat of many species, which will result to lower biodiversity. The impact on vegetation is minimal but enhancement measures can still be implemented. 1. The Barangay Council will undertake massive tree planting along the road in partnership with the City Environmental Management Office (CEMO). CEMO will provide technical and material supports in the implementation of tree planting activities. Most important species especially those under lists of Philippine endangered species should be restore and should be planted within the area to recover the natural condition of the vegetation.

2.

Operational Phase Social People The road construction project will provide improved access to markets, health services and education including increased government services such as electricity, potable water, extension services and others to the residents of Puroks Imon, Diamond, Libon, Puga, Big Tango, Gutom, and Magambi, all of Barangay Lanipao and nearby areas. Improved access will also result to lower transportation costs which is beneficial to local farmers who have to transport their products to the markets. 1. The contribution of the project to rural development will be a long-term benefit to Barangay Lanipao and City of Iligan. The project will stimulate intensification of agricultural production. This will be beneficial to local farmers, as road accessibility widens their market. In effect, this will spur and encourage production thereby increasing the productivity of local people and thus improve their living. Additionally, improved access brought about by the project will also open greater employment opportunities to the local community. 2. Monitoring of relevant indicators to see if the positive impacts are indeed achieved. The project will also provide schoolchildren with easier access to elementary education. 1. Erosion is a major concern in road development. Improper drainage from the road can damage adjacent lands particularly in steep areas during heavy rainfall. Even a short but intense rain can erode large swathes downslope of drainage ditches if the road drainage system is not good. There should be proper road maintenance once the project is completed. This should include drainage upkeep and monitoring to ensure that installation of erosion control and drainage works is adequately done.

Land

Water

Increase suspended sediments in rivers due to road erosion, decline in water quality and increased sedimentation downstream.

1.

The proponent will implement a road maintenance program to check that road erosion is controlled.