Guimaras oil spill sending chills to Bora stakeholders
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
BORACAY – The possibility that the oil spill in Guimaras may affect this island famous for its fine, white sandy beaches is a long shot, but this has not abated the fears of stakeholders here.
Boracay is off the top of Panay Island. The ill-fated oil tanker sank in the waters south of Panay and Guimaras.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here declared readiness just in case.
Lt. Cmdr. Perigrino Balestramon, chief of PCG Caticlan, was invited by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan to a regular session last Wednesday.
Though Boracay is safe, he said “there should be an inter-agency or a task force to monitor the containment of the Guimaras oil spill," Balestramon said.
The prevailing southwest monsoon could cause the oil spill to spread faster.
"Bunker oil might endanger the marine reserve and the coastal areas near Boracay Island," Balestramon added.
The 998-ton tanker Solar 1 owned by Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation sank after big waves battered it off the island of Guimaras at 4:30 p.m. Friday last week.
The tanker, bound for Zamboanga City and carrying two million liters of bunker fuel, is threatening the beaches and coral reefs of Guimaras Island and Negros Occidental.
The Coast Guard, Petron Corporation and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) 6 are spearheading the cleanup operations.
Two sailors remain missing; 18 crew members were rescued, the Coast Guard said.
SP member Plaridel Morania pointed out, "the massive oil spill could affect the tourism industry in Panay Island and the island of Boracay if not addressed by the authorities."
"There is a possibility that the oil spill could spread reaching the island of Boracay, but, this could take two or three months," said Balestramon, who replaced Lt. Cmdr. Edgar Ybañez last June 19, 2006.
In December 2005, state-owned National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) barge spilled an estimated one million liters of bunker oil along the coastal villages of Semirara Island in the province of Antique.
The spill destroyed hectares of mangrove forests. The cleanup is expected to wrap up this September.
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
BORACAY – The possibility that the oil spill in Guimaras may affect this island famous for its fine, white sandy beaches is a long shot, but this has not abated the fears of stakeholders here.
Boracay is off the top of Panay Island. The ill-fated oil tanker sank in the waters south of Panay and Guimaras.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here declared readiness just in case.
Lt. Cmdr. Perigrino Balestramon, chief of PCG Caticlan, was invited by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan to a regular session last Wednesday.
Though Boracay is safe, he said “there should be an inter-agency or a task force to monitor the containment of the Guimaras oil spill," Balestramon said.
The prevailing southwest monsoon could cause the oil spill to spread faster.
"Bunker oil might endanger the marine reserve and the coastal areas near Boracay Island," Balestramon added.
The 998-ton tanker Solar 1 owned by Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation sank after big waves battered it off the island of Guimaras at 4:30 p.m. Friday last week.
The tanker, bound for Zamboanga City and carrying two million liters of bunker fuel, is threatening the beaches and coral reefs of Guimaras Island and Negros Occidental.
The Coast Guard, Petron Corporation and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) 6 are spearheading the cleanup operations.
Two sailors remain missing; 18 crew members were rescued, the Coast Guard said.
SP member Plaridel Morania pointed out, "the massive oil spill could affect the tourism industry in Panay Island and the island of Boracay if not addressed by the authorities."
"There is a possibility that the oil spill could spread reaching the island of Boracay, but, this could take two or three months," said Balestramon, who replaced Lt. Cmdr. Edgar Ybañez last June 19, 2006.
In December 2005, state-owned National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) barge spilled an estimated one million liters of bunker oil along the coastal villages of Semirara Island in the province of Antique.
The spill destroyed hectares of mangrove forests. The cleanup is expected to wrap up this September.
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