Thursday, October 18, 2007 Oil drilling in Tanon may affect tourism By Edmund B. Sestoso
BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental -- While most local officials sees economic development in the upcoming oil drilling at Tanon Strait, Mayor Hector Villanueva is fearful it would affect the tourism potential and aggressive environmental campaign of his city.
The mayor said the project might adversely affect the area where whales and dolphins abound. It will be a great disadvantage to the city's tourism industry and nearby areas if the dolphins and whales would not come around anymore.
The Japan Petroleum Exploration Company, together with the Department of Energy, is scheduled to conduct an offshore oil and gas exploration along Tanon Strait within the municipal waters of Pinamungahan and Aloguinsan in Cebu province.
The mayor said the disturbances brought about by the noise of the exploration might affect the natural habitat of the whales and the dolphins.
This city is famous for its whale and dolphin watching and even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo had enjoyed the activity in the past years.
The mayor said he is consistent in protecting the environment, including that of the cetaceans.
The mayor said he is planning to seek the expertise of marine biologist Dr. Angel Alcala to determine if the exploration would affect marine ecosystems at the Tanon Strait.
The mayor is also planning to bring the problem to President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo when she arrives in Dumaguete on October 29.
Oil exploration was done at Tanon Strait in the past years but the move was suspended due to various technical problems and strong opposition from fishers and concerned groups.
This year, the plan was revived after President Arroyo encouraged more mining and exploration activities in the country.
