Dayang urges massive infodrive on oil spill effects
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan – Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) President Juan Dayang is rallying for a massive information campaign nationwide to educate the public on the ill-effects of exposure to bunker fuel oil spill.
This he stressed in the wake of the growing number of coastal villagers in Guimaras Island getting sick due to exposure to the spilled oil blanketing their beaches, mangrove areas, and fishing grounds.
The ill-fated M/T Solar I of Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation sank in the Guimaras Strait last August 11. The tanker, chartered by oil refiner Petron Corp., was carrying two million liters of bunker oil.
About 250,000 liters of oil had spilled to the Strait, threatening the pristine beaches, mangroves, swamps and livelihood of thousands of villagers in the area.
“A massive information campaign should be undertaken not only in Guimaras but also in nearby areas that might be threatened by the oil spill. It is very obvious that we don’t have an emergency response plan when it comes to oil spills. Hence, people in the coastal areas affected by the oil spill don’t know what to do and got unnecessarily exposed to the harmful substance,” Dayang said.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the island of Guimaras three times after the oil spill – the worst in the history of the country.
Dayang, a native of Aklan, said more than 700 coastal villagers in the island are suffering from various ailments or symptoms related to the bunker fuel oil.
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan – Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) President Juan Dayang is rallying for a massive information campaign nationwide to educate the public on the ill-effects of exposure to bunker fuel oil spill.
This he stressed in the wake of the growing number of coastal villagers in Guimaras Island getting sick due to exposure to the spilled oil blanketing their beaches, mangrove areas, and fishing grounds.
The ill-fated M/T Solar I of Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation sank in the Guimaras Strait last August 11. The tanker, chartered by oil refiner Petron Corp., was carrying two million liters of bunker oil.
About 250,000 liters of oil had spilled to the Strait, threatening the pristine beaches, mangroves, swamps and livelihood of thousands of villagers in the area.
“A massive information campaign should be undertaken not only in Guimaras but also in nearby areas that might be threatened by the oil spill. It is very obvious that we don’t have an emergency response plan when it comes to oil spills. Hence, people in the coastal areas affected by the oil spill don’t know what to do and got unnecessarily exposed to the harmful substance,” Dayang said.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited the island of Guimaras three times after the oil spill – the worst in the history of the country.
Dayang, a native of Aklan, said more than 700 coastal villagers in the island are suffering from various ailments or symptoms related to the bunker fuel oil.
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