Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Seismic survey for gas deposits in Bohol suspended
THE seismic survey off Bohol waters for oil and natural gas deposits was suspended last Thursday.
Issues of accountability in case of damage to environment as a result of the operation and compensation for affected fishermen have not been resolved yet.
Also, the study on the project’s effect on biodiversity, which is being conducted by the technical working group created by officials of Bohol and the Department of Energy (DOE), is not finished yet.
“Gisigihan namo sila (Bohol officials) ug singil sa ilang commitment kay mismo ang ilang word of honor wala mahatagi ug respeto ani nga project (We’ve being trying to get Bohol officials to deliver their commitment on the project),” said lawyer Raul Barbarona, executive director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (Elac).
Survey
He said Rep. Edgar Chato, (Bohol, 1st district) went to Manila after meeting with DOE regional officials, other Bohol officials, and those opposed to the project to persuade DOE Manila to temporarily suspend the project.
After completing its seismic survey in the waters off the southern Cebu towns of Argao and Sibonga, NorAsian Energy transferred to Bohol last June 27.
The firm had already completed its three dimensional survey that stretches from the waters off Argao to the vicinity of Cabilao islet off Loon, Bohol when its operation was suspended.
Mv Pacific Sword, the vessel conducting the survey, reportedly left for Singapore Thursday night since it could not proceed with the second phase of the operation, which is a two dimensional survey, until the DOE and NorAsian meet the conditions.
DOE 7 Antonio Labios and Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado could not be reached for comment.
Aside from the suspension, Barbarona and some fisherfolk have also filed an injunction suit against the operation.
Jurisdiction
Barbarona said after the July 2 and 4 hearing on their petition, they are waiting for the court to resolve the motion of respondents Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla, Environmental Management Bureau 7 Director Alan Arranguez that questioned the court’s jurisdiction to issue a temporary restraining order against a government project.
“We do not consider the suspension of the survey a victory to us because the third dimensional survey is the main activity.
Kanang two dimensional survey that would span from Maribojo water to Panglao pakapin nalang na,” he said.
NorAsian offered to pay P300,000 to the more than 2,700 affected fishermen in Bohol, but this was rejected because the amount was too small.
Scientists from Silliman University in Dumaguete City and marine biologists from Holy Name University in Bohol are still conducting a study on the survey’s effect to marine environment.
“NorAsian and DOE should have to resolve these conditions particularly on accountability on the environment and compensation before they could proceed with the survey,” Barbarona said. (AIV)
