Thursday, August 17, 2006
Oil spill in Guimaras to hurt tourism: official
ILOILO CITY -- The oil spill in Guimaras Strait that resulted from the sinking of an oil tanker in the area is going to hurt tourism in the island, a tourism official in Region 6 said Wednesday.
Department of Tourism (DOT) 6 Director Edwin Trompeta on Wednesday expressed concern over the effects of the spill involving two million liters of bunker oil and urged authorities Wednesday to contain it the soonest possible time.
Oil tanker Solar 1 sank off Nueva Valencia town in the province of Guimaras on Friday, causing an oil slick that has spread along the province's coastline.
Guimaras Governor Rahman Nava advised residents against fishing in the Guimaras Strait or from buying and eating fish following the oil spill.
Four spill boats began cleaning up the seas Wednesday.
The spill, Trompeta said, has spread to the western side of the island province.
Guimaras, according to Trompeta, relies heavily on its tourism industry. The island is known for its bountiful seas, beaches, and mangoes.
He said he hoped that concerned agencies would find ways to contain the oil slick immediately.
There is, however, no danger the spill would spread to the beaches of Boracays, he said, as Guimaras Strait is far from the world-famous resort island.
Teams from the local government units in Guimaras, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Solar 1 and consignee Petron Corp., and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are working together to contain the mess.
The spill has adversely affected about 10,000 people from two of the five towns of Guimaras, said Nava in a letter to Police Regional Office 6 Director Geary Barias, who is also chairman of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC).
He added in his report: Likely to be damaged are 102 kilometers of coastline, 15.8 square kilometers of coral reef habitat, 105 hectares of mangroves, and 42 hectares planted with seaweeds.
Beach resorts, except those in Poblacion, have been adversely affected.
Also, Nava added, Taklong Island National Marine Reserve in Barangays La Paz and San Roque was damaged.
The island's most popular beach, Alubihod in the town of Jordan, was also in danger of being contaminated with bunker fuel as of Wednesday morning, with the spill having spread near the mouth of the municipality's Lawi Cove.
The governor has created Task Force Sunrise to evaluate the extent of the oil spill and its damage to the environment of Guimaras.
The Guimaras Provincial Government reportedly plans to sue the management of Sunshine Maritime Development Corp., owner of m/t Solar 1, for the damage wrought to the island by the spill. (LABB/Sunnex)
(August 17, 2006 issue)
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