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Friday, November 16, 2007
Fisherfolk mourn livelihood loss
By Jujemay G. Awit
CEBU CITY –- The exploratory drilling for oil and gas in the Tañon Strait off the coast of Pinamungajan town started Thursday, as fisherfolk said their livelihood also ended.
Sixty-year-old Fortunato Mercado has been a fisherman for most of his life, starting when he was only 10 years old, going with his father to sea. He lives in Pinamu-ngajan town, southwest of Cebu.
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Mercado led hundreds of fishermen from Pinamungajan and neighboring town of Aloguinsan Wednesday for a rally against the oil and gas exploration.
He is a member of Pag-mata, a local fishermen's organization. He stands to lose his livelihood.
"The Coast Guard immediately meets us if we go near the drilling area," Mercado lamented.
Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. (Japex) has cordoned off the area for drilling.
Security
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), meanwhile, will create a task group to ensure the security of the drilling project.
CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria said the task group will be composed of personnel from different units.
The police will also be tapping the resources of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Navy, and the Regional Maritime Office.
Valmoria said they have limited resources when it comes to sea patrols, which is why they needed help from the two agencies.
Two outposts in each of the two towns will be set up for the task group, which will stay for the duration of the drilling project.
However, Valmoria initially sent an "advance party" as CPPO is still getting in touch with other units that will comprise the task group.
The drilling project has the support of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
During a press conference yesterday, the governor said she trusts that the mayors of the towns involved are capable of "handling discordant voices or even issues within their own locality."
In the past explorations near Sibonga and Argao towns, issues raised by the fisherfolk and other groups were addressed and she believes that Alogunisan Mayor Cynthia Moreno and Pinamungajan Mayor Geraldine Yapha will be more than capable to address problems.
The only time that Garcia raised an objection to these explorations was when no proper coordination was made with the Province of Cebu and the local government units.
Lessons
"I believe that these particular companies have learned their lessons well, which is why they have gone out of their way, together with the Department of Energy, to apprise the Province and the LGUs on the activities of these companies," Garcia said.
The fishermen will have to find a way to catch fish.
Mercado of Pinamungajan said that if they even get near the area, which is viable for fishing, the Coast Guard drives them away. There is not a lot of fish they can get near the shore, he said.
Anny Solon, 38, another fisherman, also complained that their fishing nets get snared by the anchors of Japex.
Drilling noise and vibration also drive the fish away.
He said that before, they could get P1,500 worth of fish. But since Japex set up their drilling station, they only get as much as P200 worth of fish.
"That's not even enough for gasoline for pumpboats," Solon said.
Japex, though, has offered a sack of rice for each fisherman for two months.
However, only those registered were given the rice.
Incoming Barangay Captain Fidel Liugan of Poblacion, Pinamungajan said some fishermen were not registered because they need at least P400 to be given permits.
Mayor Yapha, though, did not leave the fisherfolk without sustenance, he said.
Other fishermen and their wives said that the sack of rice is not enough while some said that those who received the allocation were not genuine fishermen.
"It's easy to register if one has money. Some were late in registering so they did not receive rice," a fisherman's wife said.
Mercado was also concerned that the drilling may just go on forever.
Japex has two months to explore. If it finds commercially viable amounts of oil or gas, Japex is eligible for a 25-year production contract with the government and stands to corner 40 percent of the yield.
There are six coastal barangays of Pinamungajan affected by the drilling-Tutay, Manguto, Poblacion, Pandacan and Tajao.
Vince Cinches of the Fisherfolks' Development Center said that about 2,100 to 4,000 fishers will be displaced by the exploration.
Opportunity
But Mayors Yapha and Moreno said they are in favor of the oil exploration because of the taxes, employment and business opportunities these will bring once Japex and its partners start commercial operations.
At the end of the interview, Mercado was willing to compromise.
"They are already there. We cannot force them to leave. We only want to get just compensation," said Mercado. When asked what would be enough, he said that it should be at least two sacks of rice coupled with financial assistance.
He used to get 20 kilos of fish each time he went out to sea. Now, he is limited to only three to four kilos. (With MEA/MBG/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (November 16, 2007 issue)
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