Aklan approves P200T assistance to Guimaras
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – 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, beaches and marine life in Guimaras, and the livelihood of thousands of residents relying on the sea.
The spill was caused by the sinking of M/T Solar I tanker in the Panay Gulf last August 11. It was carrying two million liters of bunker oil.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared the oil spill a national disaster and had ordered the ship owner Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation and the oil refiner Petron Corporation for immediate and massive clean-up operations.
“The speedy release of relief funds to the ravaged Guimaras is part of our humanitarian and social concern,” Tolentino said.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan approved the allocation during its 31st regular session Wednesday last week. Tolentino presides the SP.
Arroyo herself ordered the release of P10 million to help Guimaras and neighboring provinces.
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.
Coyme said 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.
Environmental group Greenpeace said the government must hold Petron – that chartered the tnaker -- 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.
It also said that to avoid catastrophic incidents such as an oil spill, the country should reduce its dependence on oil