Oil Exploration

Discovering oil is like finding the "liquid gold" - large quantities of which will fill the national coffers and reduce the country's dependency on "oil politics."

Nobody will argue against its financial and geo-political significance. A Third World country suddenly finds itself in the world map of countries that matter, that's what.

By June 18, the consortium ship of MV Pacific Sword will do a three-week seismic survey along the Cebu-Bohol Strait to do a scientific study to validate initial findings of "high to very high recoverable reserves" of hydrocarbon or natural gas deposits in East Visayas.

Oil discovery leads to massive employment and the blossoming of ancillary industries along the nearby areas, which is fine. But precisely a seismic survey that sends loud blasts of air into the seabed is required to determine fact from fiction.

But such a survey, as many activities, has social, financial and environmental costs that three hours consultation with the communities to be affected appears to be just a consuelo de bobo.

Fortunately, this modern-day massive environment awareness campaign has awakened communities and organizations like BANGON to stand up for the rights of the genuine stakeholders in this undertaking. The environmental warrior spirit within us has been awakened to the call of a distant drum - defend the environment.

The conflict between "economics and the environment" will be the Third World War we never anticipated would happen in our lifetime. It is happening now.

The Department of Energy (who has vested interest in oil exploration) says there is not harm to be done on marine life with the seismic survey. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources says that activity does not need an Environmental Clearance.

We don't have to take their word for it. Because there are also other issues of just compensation, validation of protection of marine life and sanctuary and equitable sharing, which are validly raised by the environmentalists.

Let's get "scientific confirmation" from a foundation based in the University of San Carlos that had classified the Dauis-Panglao area as part of the water basin that has the largest marine biodiversity in the entire planet. Let us confirm from the foundation if the claims of the government agencies that coral reefs and marine biodiversity will not be threatened by 21 days of loud blasts. Will the sound-sensitive whales and dolphins not scamper for more "peaceful graves" after this new assault on their auditory nerves?

What about the fisher folks - one day without going to the sea is no-kidding a starvation threat, living as they do on "hand-to-mouth" existence on a daily basis.

What kind of damage would three weeks do? The BFAR should first do baseline data on fishing data, registered and non-registered fisher folks and list of fish pens in the affected areas. That would include Tagbilaran City, Panglao, Dauis, Maribojoc, Loon, Calape and Tubigon before we allow this survey.

Reelected three-termer 1st District Rep. Edgar Chatto (and last Congress Tourism Chair) should put fire under the behinds of these agencies to finish quickly the data in order to claim just compensation from a consortium who can afford to spend US$4.4 million on seismic survey or about P200 million. Surely, they can afford this quid-pro-quo arrangement for stopping livelihood activities of our poor brethren. Ditto for passenger and cargo ships that will be denied economic activity if barred from crossing the Bohol Strait.

As to the LGU's "equitable income sharing," the 3.46% sharing for every US$100 gross revenue looks "confiscatory" to us given that ordinary brokers who rely on saliva and power of persuasion get at least 5% on most deals while the LGU who hosts the "mining" of their owned sea resources will only be accorded a small 3.46%. Couldn't this sharing be reviewed?

Overall, this rush to do the "seismic" survey is an insult to the affected Boholanos in said areas. Definitely, we need more time to assess the liabilities - that such an exploration will carry. The people and the affected LGUs should demand for "more time" to discuss and negotiate peacefully what is rightful and just.

If not, a naval blockade it may not be, but bancas, small boats, speedboats and logs can stop a "hostile force" which does not recognize community rights to the protection of environment and livelihood - right there in the middle of the seawaters.

That would be "people power" at sea. It must not even have to come to that.

Waste Water Treatment

We congratulate reelected City Mayor Dan Lim for the impending completion of the huge city drainage system that will prevent flooding and destruction of roads. The project will cascade the city waste and water into the Tagbilaran City Bay, a thing of beauty that is supposed to be a joy forever. The city bay waters has been likened to "a giant swimming pool reflecting its cleanliness like a newly-wiped mirror" - poets will run out of rhyme.

Unfortunately, that is just half of the job. Because unless the city makes good its promise to install a "catch-all" waste-water treatment facility - all the project ensures is that the resplendent Tagbilaran City Bay will be the receptacle of the city's waste - all the bad and the ugly. The Bay will become a tourist embarrassment and a health hazard to marine and human lives.

We earnestly enjoin City Mayor Lim, to put his shoulders behind this environmentally-correct social investment - by sourcing the P88 million projected cost of the facility.

Then he may bill the users of the drainage a monthly assessment fee - as their social equity in destroying the waste they have produced (anyhow) for the good of the community and the tourists who patronize their products and services.

It is only fair - and then the project likewise becomes self-liquidating.

The Provincial Capitol under Gov. Erico Aumentado has done its share in erecting a P2-million facility to process its own waste materials.

We are sure Mayor Lim will match that resolve with his own brand of environmental leadership and creative management. Let's watch and see.