Race Against Time

Oil spill could displace 5,000 families – Governor Nava

By MONTESA GRIÑO / PNS
August 18, 2006

GUIMARAS –  As much as 5,000 families could be displaced by the oil spill from a tanker that sank off Guimaras Island, warned Governor Rahman Nava as authorities scramble to contain the oil’s spread.

These families of some 10,000 persons depend their livelihood on the sea, he explained.

The Philippine Coast Guard also said the oil spill is endangering a marine reserve near the island.

The Coast Guard said yesterday that the spill has stretched as far as 19.5 nautical square miles off Guimaras, affecting 16 villages in the island and spread to a national marine reserve.

The 1,143-hectare enclosed Taklong Island shelters limestone islets where mangrove, coral reefs and sea grass beds are planted.

The tanker, M/V Solar I, was carrying two million liters of bunker oil when it sank off the island Friday last week. It was chartered by Petron Corp., the country’s largest oil refiner.

Nava has a lower number of barangays affected – 14. He said 11 of these barangays are from Nueva Valencia while the three were from Sibunag.

The affected barangays in Nueva Valencia are San Antonio, Igdarapdap, Canhawan, Cabalagnan, Lapaz, San Roque, Lucmayan, Tando, Dolores, Guiwanon, and Panobolon.

In Sibunag, the affected barangays are Brgy. Alegria, San Isidro and Sabang.

Nava said the oil spill is also affecting the island resorts of Nagarao, Siraray, Nalibas Pamangkulan and Naoway.

“The mouth of Lawi Cove in Jordan town is also affected,” Nava added.

The governor said he issued an order prohibiting fishermen from venturing to the affected areas. Fishes from these areas are not guaranteed safe to eat anymore, he explained.

As of this writing, the coral reef area affected reached 15.8 square kilometers; mangrove –105 hectares; and seaweed farms -- 42 hectares.

Nava said he is also expecting fish kills and reports of skin diseases erupting. Nava expressed dismay over the oil spill. “We don’t know when it is going to be over,” he said.

Experts said the cleanup could take long – as much as nine years.

Nava said he already talked to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.