By Recto I. Vidal
Members of the provincial board of Aklan passed two separate resolutions during its session on Wednesday, February 8, 2006. One resolution urges Congress of the Philippines committee on environment and natural resources and other independent bodies to conduct investigation on the oil spill caused by the National Power Corporation (NPC) barge at Semirara, Antique and its effect to the island of Boracay and other areas of Aklan.
Sponsored by board member Franklin Quimpo, the said resolution expresses concern on the "destruction wrought by the massive oil spill caused by NPC barge last December 18, 2005 along Semirara Island of Antique. This is believed to be the country's largest oil spill that poses grave hazard to marine and human lives.
"After the incident, very little if not limited information is being presented to the public thus making all stakeholders together with the local residents of Aklan worry about the long term effect of the disaster," Quimpo lamented.
He likewise rued that "the irreversible damage to the areas affected by the oil spill spells death to the inhabitants of the area as it directly affects the source of food and livelihood of the people."
He said, “a Princeton report emphasized that after their studies on oil spills worldwide, even a small amount of petroleum can damage marine life and ecosystem.
The impact of the oil spill is not directly related to the size of the spills since even a small spill is an ecologically sensitive area that have a long term impact,” the report said.
"All oil spills have negative impact on marine organisms and oil from open ocean spills can end up contaminating beaches hundreds of miles away, thus our critical concern as tourism is considered the most important Aklan industry and majority of tourism activities are concentrated in the island of Boracay.
Quimpo said that after the investigation, all stakeholders should be informed of the findings and indemnify all those affected by the accident.
In another resolution authored by board member Plaridel Morania, he urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to order the immediate cleanup of the oil spill.
He said Semirara Island is very near the province of Aklan, particularly the seas surrounding northwestern Aklan to include most importantly the island of Boracay.
"There is an urgent necessity for the immediate cleanup of the spillage which has already affected marine life and the environment in the area. Not until sooner contained, there is an imminent danger that the territorial waters of Aklan in the northwestern portion will also be affected," he warned.
He cautioned that the coastal waters of Boracay will be the first to be affected should the spill be spread by northwesterly winds or by bad weather conditions. /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment