The provincial government of Aklan is shelling out P200,000 to help families affected by the oil spill in Guimaras. "The fund will come from the five percent calamity fund," said Vice Gov. Ronquillo Tolentino, citing Republic Act 8185. The massive oil spill at the Guimaras Strait has destroyed mangroves plantations, beautiful beaches and marine resources in Guimaras, and destroyed the livelihood of thousands of residents relying on the sea.
The sinking of M/T Solar I tanker in the Panay Gulf last August 11 caused the spill. It was carrying two million liters of bunker oil. According to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the oil spill is a national disaster. She ordered the ship owner Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation and the oil refiner Petron Corporation for the immediate and massive clean-up operations.
"The speedy release of relief funds to the ravaged Guimaras is part of our humanita-rian and social concern," Tolentino said. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan, which Tolentino presides, approved the allocation during its 31st regular session Wednesday last week. Arroyo herself ordered the release of P10 million to help Guimaras and neighboring provinces affected by the oil spill. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it may take two years to clean up the oil spill. "With this large spill right now in Guimaras, we have estimated (the cleanup to take) more than a year or two," Lt. Cdr. Joseph Coyme, PCG information officer, said. According to Coyme, the PCG based the estimated duration of oil cleanup on the previous oil spill in Semirara Island, which took about a year to clean up. A vessel belonging to state-owned National Power Corp. spilled almost one million liters of bunker oil along the coastal villages of Semirara in Antique province last December, 2005.
Environmental group Greenpeace said the government must hold Petron – that chartered the tanker — liable for the damage caused by the oil spill on the marine and coastal ecosystems in Guimaras. "The vessel that sank is an ecological time bomb that may cause long-term and possibly permanent damage to the environment and livelihoods of people," the group said in a statement. Greenpeace said shipping companies must operate under the highest standards to prevent new oil spills. To avoid repetition of this catastrophic incident, the country must reduce her dependence on oil, it added.The P200T cash donation and six tons of abaca fiber were delivered by Mr. Kit Saratiosa to the Governor of Guimaras. The Provincial Governor came to tears after receiving the donations. He has been looking for abaca fibers until the Aklan donation came to be used in the clean up of oil spill. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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