Friday, November 16, 2007 Senate asked: Look into oil hunts
SEN. Maria Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal is seeking an inquiry into the negative effects of oil and gas exploration, as drilling tests for oil started in the Tañon Strait yesterday.
Madrigal wants to know what will happen to the environment and health of the residents within the Visayan Sea, Bicol and Southern Tagalog where explorations are being conducted.
She filed Senate Resolution 141 directing the Senate committees on environment and natural resources, health and demography, and energy to investigate.
Madrigal noted that the 2004-2010 Medium Term Philippine Development Plan envisions an energy-independent Philippines, leading to the awarding of service contracts to foreign companies for oil and gas explorations around the country.
However, Madrigal said that most, if not all, of these oil and gas explorations are being undertaken in protected seascapes that are rich in marine resources and biodiversity.
“These areas are already in need of urgent rehabilitation and stricter protection due to unabated exploitation and abuse and other forms of environmental destruction”, Madrigal said in her resolution.
She said the Philippine Government has entered into a seven-year contract to undertake oil and gas explorations in the country with Forum Exploration Inc. of Canada and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd.
It has also entered into services contract with other foreign oil and gas companies such as the Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development, Alcorn Gold Resources Corporation, Petro Energy Corp., Austral Asian Energy Ltd. And Ottoman Energy Ltd.
“Two of these service contracts are located in Cebu-Bohol Strait and Tañon Strait between Cebu and Negros islands that are both among the top 10 major fishing grounds in the country,” Madrigal said.
The senator also said that these foreign oil and gas companies are also eyeing the waters off Palawan, Antique, Ragay Gulf in Bicol and Mindoro Occidental.
Study
Madrigal received a report from Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mama-malakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Fisherfolks Development Center (Fidec-Visayas) about the study they made that revealed a drastic decrease of fish catch in areas where seismic testing was conducted.
Several payaos and coral reefs were also destroyed.
Pamalakaya and Fidec-Visayas also reported fish kills in Barangays Talavera, Luray II, Calong-Calong, Ibo and Bato in Toledo City; Tajao, Pandacan, Tutay and Cabiongan in Pinamungajan town; and Cantabogon, Boho, Poblacion and Bonbon in Aloguinsan, Cebu.
The study also found rising cases of skin rashes and other types of skin diseases among residents, especially children, in affected areas, Madrigal said.
With these, Madrigal suggested a review of all oil and gas explorations contracts with the aim of enacting legislation that will remedy the situation. (EOB)
