Wednesday, October 04, 2006 Thanks to oil spill, Guimaras known worldwide: official By Roberto L. Bacasong
THE worst oil spill in the Philippine history contributed in making Guimaras Province visible in the tourism map of the world, said Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 Director Edwin Trompeta.
Trompeta said Tuesday that many now know where Guimaras Island is after it was hit by the spill last month.
"In the spirit of bayanihan, tourists flocked to Guimaras in their urge to help the local officials save the marine ecosystem," said Trompeta.
He added that foreign researchers, environmentalists, students, and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promoted the tourism industry of Guimaras.
Guimaras, the youngest and smallest of the six provinces of the Western Visayas Region, relies heavily on its tourism industry.
The island is usually known for its bountiful seas, beaches, and sweet mangoes.
Known as the "Mango Country," the province has 8,000 hectares of mango orchards managed by corporations and individual growers. The United States Department of Agriculture has certified that the island's mango products are pest-free and are among the best varieties in the world.
The province is composed of five municipalities, namely: Jordan, the provincial capital, and Buenavista, Nueva Valencia, and the newly created Sibunag and San Lorenzo. Guimaras occupies about 3 percent of the region's total land area.
Meanwhile, the continuous oil leak from the ill-fated m/t Solar 1 worries Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon.
He said he received a report from Philippine Coast Guard Regional Commander Luis Tuason, which said that a "minimal amount of oil is continuously leaking from the source of the spill (tanker)."
"I am hoping that they will address the continuous leak at the soonest possible time," Marañon said as he revealed his intention to remind Petron Corp. of its responsibilities again.
In Iloilo City, lawyers from the University of the Philippines are set to provide assistance to Guimaras in its court battle against Petron Corp.
Marivic De Leon, University of the Philippines (UP) vice president for Legal Affairs, is organizing a panel of lawyers that will assist in the case.
Apart from the legal team, UPV's economic experts will study the effects of the spill, determine who are liable for the oil spill that affected Guimaras and Negros straits, and check the extent of the damages that the incident caused.
Prior to UPV's move, retired Regional Trial Court Judge David Alfeche filed charges against Petron Corp., Sunshine Shipping Corp., and other personalities while representing several affected residents of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.
The Guimaras Provincial Government headed by Governor JC Rahman Nava, through its Provincial Legal Officer Plaredil Nava, also filed charges against Petron Corporation and others.
Last week, according to reports, the PCG refused to issue a clearance for Petron's two vessels loaded with oil debris and sludge to depart from Guimaras.
The PCG stated that Petron uses cargo vessels and not an oil barge or tanker to transport the sludge.
The spill has adversely affected about 10,000 people from two of the five towns of Guimaras. (RLB/With reports from Sunnex)
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