GUIMARAS OIL SPILL

OUR RETIREMENT PARADISE THREATENED.

Guimaras execs lament effects of oil spill

Monday, August 14 2006 @ 05:24 PM BSTProvincial

Guimaras local executives headed by Governor JC Rahman Nava expressed fears over the direct effects of the oil spill in the southern waters due to the sinking of an oil tanker near Nueva Valencia coast over the weekend.

The oil had spread up to the shorelines of at least 10 coastal barangays in Nueva Valencia and two coastal villages of Sibunag, including some of the province's world-class beaches.Beach resorts, which include Nagarao Island Resort, Nauway Island and Inampulugan Island, where the world- class Costa Aguada beach is located, are now reportedly affected by the oil spill.

These island resorts are among those that earn millions of pesos for Guimaras out of the local and foreign tourists.The Philippine Coast Guard reported that two million litters of oil carried by MT Solar 1 are feared to have spread not only in Guimaras waters but also in the nearby coasts of southern Iloilo and Western Negros province.

Nava appealed for help from the people of Guimaras and government agencies including the Philippine Coast Guard and the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) to minimize the impact of the oil spill.

"This has affected not only the environment but also the livelihood of our people and tourism. This is one disaster we have not expected. The PDCC had our emergency meeting last Sunday and we have advised our fishermen not to go fishing in the meantime because it could be dangerous," Nava said.

Nueva Valencia Mayor Diosdado Gonzaga fears that all the coastal barangays in the town would be affected."Nueva Valencia is the tourism capital of Guimaras. Most of the popular beaches are found here," Gonzaga said.The provincial government has declared the Nueva Valencia under the state of calamity.Gonzaga said at least a thousand fishermen have been affected by the oil spill. The most affected barangays are Dolores, Tando, Lucmayan, San Roque, Lapaz, Cabalagnan, Canhawan and island-barangays of Panobolon, Guiwanon and Unisan.

Sibunag Mayor Pedrito Gange complained said the oil spill had spread to Barangay Alegria and Brgy. Sabang."I advised our seaweed growers to transfer their plants to higher areas. No exporter would want products mixed with oil," Gange said.Jordan Mayor Felipe Hilan Nava also joined the call for the people to help in their own way in mitigating the impact of the oil spill through a massive clean-up. (PNA)