Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Oil drilling to kill tourism: Alcala
TOURISM in Oriental Negros will collapse if oil and natural gas exploration in the Tañon Strait is allowed to continue, a research director from Silliman University warned yesterday.
Speaking before the 888 News Forum, Angel Alcala, who is also with the Commission on Higher Education-Zonal Research Center (CHED-ZRC), said 12 to 16 species of dolphins will disappear during the sea drilling operations. The dolphins attract thousands of tourists to the area.
Japex Philippines Ltd. is conducting oil exploration in the Tañon Strait.
Alcala, a former environment secretary, said that their research indicated that sound generated by drilling operations will scare away marine organism and drive fish away from Tañon Straight.
If this happens, Alcala said it will destroy the area’s tourist attractions. He also said that with the fish gone, fisherfolk will lose their livelihood, worsening the situation of already poverty-stricken families.
Alcala, along with Commission on Higher Education (Ched) officials, were in Cebu for the International Conference on Research in Higher Education Institutions at Waterfront Hotel-Lahug yesterday.
Useless
The oil exploration has reportedly affected fisherfolk in Bohol, especially Calape, Loon, Maribojoc, Panglan and Dauis and Tagbilaran City.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to Japex.
Alcala, however, said this was done in haste. He also said it was useless because there’s no way to compare it to the data from marine biologists who conducted a no-nonsense study on the issue.
“You cannot say whether this EIA is good or bad”, Alcala said.
Meanwhile, Vince Cinches of Fisherfolks Development Center (Fidec Inc.) said they will continue to oppose oil and natural gas exploration because it will dislocate families who depend on fishing.
Cinches said that even if oil and natural gas production will bring financial gains for the government in the future, this should be stopped because it will affect marginal people.
Glen Bacusmo of Farmers Development Center (Fardec) also questioned the P50,000 donation by the Deparment of Energy (DOE) to the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB), which recommended the Japex project.
Bacusmo said he suspects that the PAMB, which was inactive for the past five years, was activated only to recommend the oil and gas exploration. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 24, 2007 issue)
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