Saturday, December 08, 2007 Gwen ‘straightens out misconceptions’ about controversial oil hunt
CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia confirmed yesterday that measures are in place to minimize risks while the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) conducts exploratory oil drilling in the Tañon Strait, off the coast of Pinamungajan town.
Japex provided a helicopter for Garcia and the television crews and photographers so they could tour its oil rig.
“I hope that this visit would clear all doubts and get the facts straight, so that those who were uninformed or misinformed, whether advertently or inadvertently, will realize that though there are risks involved in this particular activity, there have also been extraordinary measures taken to contain these risks,” Garcia said in a press conference after the tour.
Japex operations manager Hirotaka Tanaka briefed the visitors on the safety measures employed by the company for their workers, local residents and the environment.
Tanaka admitted there are risks, but that the company assures the public these will be minimized.
The governor said the visit affirmed her support for the exploration.
“The discovery of oil in commercial quantities will have a tremendous economic impact not just on Cebu but the entire country,” Garcia said.
“Instead of raising loud voices in protests about some things that we are not truly informed about, maybe we should pray that we will get positive results kay mas daghan pa ana ang matagaan og serbisyo (so that more people can benefit from services),” said the governor.
Militant groups and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-National Environmental Action Team (IBP-Neat) earlier reported that Tañon Strait hosts at least 13 species of water mammals. They fear that the oil drilling will harm or kill these species.
“We saw for ourselves fish and manta rays freely swimming about, unperturbed,” said Garcia. Japex also provided the governor and the media a video of the manta rays and fish, taken Thursday night by an underwater camera.
As to stability, Garcia described the rig to be anchored on eight “huge pedestals.”
“It’s very stable and by the way, there are no tidal waves around it and it is not causing any pollution. Of course, for safety purposes, a 1.5-kilometer radius has been cordoned off through buoys,” Garcia said.
The governor she would not have supported the project if it was meant to destroy nature. But she said she also welcomes legal action against the project because it is the people’s right to seek it.
The IBP-Neat earlier said it was contemplating on filing a petition to stop the exploratory drilling.
“These groups that have expressed apprehensions, they will be welcome to visit. The Department of Energy (DOE) indicated willingness to dialogue with these groups,” Garcia said.
Acting Undersecretary Ramon Allan Oca represented the DOE during the tour.
As of yesterday, the drilling had reached 1,550 meters.
The company will stop at 3,000 meters, expected in three weeks. (JGA)
