|
Friday, September 01, 2006
Editorials: Beyond Guimaras
It is tragic enough to countenance that an environmentally devastating incident like what happened in Guimaras almost three weeks ago should affect part of our seas, it is much more troubling to consider that it has devastated some of the living things that inhabit its depths.
Then consider the effect of such incident on the lives of humans that look to the seas as a source of livelihood.
No consolation
While the latest assessment on the spread of the deadly oil slick was that it has slowed down and would not reach the waters around Cebu, still it is hardly a consolation to us.
According to the Coast Guard, the slick “has reached the country’s richest fishing grounds.”
Its search and rescue operation noted that the oil has drifted to the Visayan Sea, one of the richest fishing grounds of the republic.
At the moment, estimates of the leak from the sunken 998-ton tanker Solar 1 have gone down to “less than 10 liters of oil per day, as against the estimated 500 liters per day” shortly after the ship sank in the deep waters south of Guimaras on August 11.
But what is still unknown is whether the more than two million liters of oil the tanker carried has all leaked out.
Some suspect that there are still intact waterproof oil tanks in the sunken ship.
Protected area
Before the Guimaras tragedy, the Philippine government and environmentalists have never been challenged by an oil slick in our seas.
Now that they have stared at the creeping dark devastation, our local and national leaders suddenly realized that the country is sadly lacking with the ways and means to combat the menace, much less “a protocol” to control it.
The head of the Visayan Sea Squadron Antonio Oposa has reportedly suggested to members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines that the Visayan Sea be declared a protected area.
The idea, in a sense, is to close the Visayan Sea as an open lane for ships coming into or going out of the Philippines’ area of responsibility.
To the shipping industry, it might take longer to get into the country, but environmentally safer.
The proposal is sound and deserves deeper study and consideration by all concerned.
Momentum
More and more, our country’s natural resources demand careful attention and focus by our national leaders in the face of our growing population.
The demand for food will place so much pressure on our diminishing wealth, both on our seas and our lands.
It is imperative that protection for our much-maligned land and sea resources is set up now.
“People only value what we have lost or about to lose,” said Oposa. “Thank to the oil spill, finally people are beginning to focus on the unparalleled wealth of the Philippine seas. We must seize the momentum of concern and convert it into action.”
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 1, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
