THE Department of Energy (DOE) and NorAsian Energy Ltd. of Australia are rushing dialogues with Bohol officials and the affected fisherfolk because the oil explorers pay a penalty for the vessel if there are delays in the seismic survey.
NorAsian needs to pay $125,000 per day if the mv Pacific Sword will fail to finish the survey on schedule.
DOE Assistant Secretary Francisco Delfin Jr. said the amount represents the rental of the seismic vessel hired by the Australian oil and natural gas explorer.
He said they no longer have problems with Cebuano officials and fishers since they have fully understood the project and are amendable to the offer of compensation.
Kristoffer Fellowes, NorAsian chief executive officer, has said the seismic survey in Cebu started last June 18 and may last 10 days.
They will be conducting a survey in the seawaters off southern Cebu, covering the towns of Carcar, Sibonga, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob and Santander.
In Bohol, the seismic suvery will be conducted in the seawaters off the municipalities of Calape, Loon, Maribojoc, Dauis and Panglao and in Tagbilaran City.
Delfin said that if Bohol officials and fishers’ group will still oppose the project after the surveys in Cebu are completed, the exploration firm will continue to pay the vessel owner, CGG Vertitas, for the rental of mv Pacific.
In a meeting with members of the Visayan Association of Coastwise Service Operators earlier, Jasbir Singh, the vessel operations manager, said the seismic survey must be continuous to avoid the unnecessary expenses.
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Andres Bojos reported that in a meeting with Gov. Erico Aumen-tado last Monday, the provincial chief executive said he already created a Technical Working Group that will conduct a biodiversity study.
Bojos said that the group will be composed of scientists from Silliman University in Dumaguete City and marine biology researchers of Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City.
The group, Bojos said, will conduct a study before, during and after the seismic survey to determine if there will be any damage to marine life.
The study is also supported by the Bohol Association of Non-Government Organizations.
DOE, BFAR and NorAsian officials met yesterday with the fisherfolk of the municipalities of Loon and Maribojoc, who have expressed their willingness to accept the financial assistance, Delfin said.
“We will meet again with the Bohol officials and the leaders of fisherfolk on Sunday to finalize everything,” he added. (EOB)
