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LINE. Gov. Erico Aumentado, DoE Asst. Sec. Francisco
Delfin and NorAsia executive Chris Fellowes listen to
oppositors of the oil exploration project during a dialogue
while fisherfolks hold picket at the well guarded gate
of the Governor's Mansionwhich lasted up to 11:30 Thursday
evening. |
The
Bohol side of the three-dimensional (3D) seismic survey of
the Bohol Strait slated to start tomorrow has been deferred
pending the resolution of issues and concerns raised by the
Bohol Alliance of Non-Government Organizations (Bangon).
This
following a five-hour marathon meeting Thursday night and
another Friday afternoon both presided over by Gov. Erico
Aumentado at the conference room of the Governor's Mansion.
Bangon
led by lawyer Raul Barbarona, member of the Board of Trustees
and former chair Emilia Roslinda, executive director of PROCESS
Foundation and some other stakeholders including marginalized
fishermen and fisherfolks aired their concern over compensation
for adversely affected fishermen and their fish aggregating
devices (FADs) or payao, the equitable distribution of royalty
fees and conservation of marine resources.
Department
of Energy Assistant Sec. Francisco Delfin Jr., Kristoffer
Fellowes and Ruben Gan, chief executive officer and chief
operating officer respectively of the NorAsian Energy Ltd.
answered questions that however still left some issues hanging.
As
a result, Delfin and NorAsian categorically stated that they
will defer the survey on the Bohol side until the issues are
cleared.
However
they will start the Cebu side of the 3D survey as scheduled
having obtained endorsement from the Cebu provincial government.
ROYALTY
While
the survey will determine the quantity of natural gas or oil
from the geologic formation that NorAsian refers to as "mature
prospects" between Cabilao Island in Bohol and Argao
town in Cebu, for purposes of computation only, Delfin tagged
a gross income of P100 million. Pegging the actual recoverable
cost or gross proceeds at 70 percent - whichever is lower
- this spells net proceeds of P30 million.
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The
contractor share at 40 percent is P12 million, leaving
the remaining 60 percent or P18 million as the government
share. From this will be deducted P8.21 million representing
income tax computed at 8.21 percent of the gross income.
This less a net government share of P9.79 million from
which 60 percent or P5.87 million will be deducted as
national government share. This will go to DOE.
The
remaining 40 percent or P3.92 million will be divided
among the provincial government at 20 percent or P.79
million; 45 percent for the town where the natural resource
is located or P1.76 million, and 35 percent for the
barangay or P1 37 million.
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Using
the above computation for an assumed discovery of 298 barrels
of oil and 425 of gas, the hypothetical government royalty
for a $19.90-billion gross income. For the LGU share, $0.156
billion will go to the province, $0.352 billion to the town
and $0.274 to the barangay.
COMPENSATION
Fellowes
and Delfin also committed to compensate affected communities.
Owners of registered payaos will get direct full compensation
with the amount to be determined by estimates of the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
For
unregistered payaos, NorAsian will pay P500 to the municipal
treasurer concerned to register the same and the balance directly
to the owners.
Lourdes
Arciaga of BFAR 7, Cresencio Pahamutang of BFAR Bohol and
Region 7 Director Andres Bojos who flew in from Iloilo on
instructions of OIC Gil Adora whom Aumentado called to help
resolve the hanging issues said the cost of installing payaos
depends on several factors, among them the depth and distance
from the shore. The deeper it is placed, the more expensive
it becomes.
While
the seismic boat m/v Pacific Sword is conducting the survey,
fishermen, divers, fast craft and other vessels are urged,
for their safety, to stay eight kilometers away.
Two
pumpboats and a speedboat will be deployed to help warn they
if they get too close. This means some fishermen will incur
temporary loss of revenue.
NorAsian
will give these registered fishermen direct and full compensation.
Compensation
for unregistered fishermen will be given to the provincial
government for distribution, but Aumentado suggested that
the amount be given directly to the municipal governments
for easier distribution and less expenses on the part of the
fishermen.
To
determine who will get compensation, Aumentado Friday issued
a memorandum order to the mayors of Tagbilaran City and Dauis,
Panglao, Cortes, Maribojoc, Calape and Loon towns and their
respective agricultural officers to submit within five days
the list of registered and unregistered owners of FADs, fish
cages and pens operating within their jurisdiction and their
cost, and the list of registered and unregistered fisherfolks,
the fishing gears they use and their average daily fish catch.
ENVIRONMENT
To
determine the effect of the seismic survey on the environment,
the stakeholders agreed to identify prospective members of
a Technical Working Group (TWG) that will conduct "before,
during and after" surveys of marine sanctuaries in Barangays
Doljo and Bil-isan in Panglao, Cabilao and Sandingan in Loon
and in strategic areas in between.
Tagged
to head the group is Dr. Nida Calumpong of Silliman University
who earlier helped PROCESS and the Bohol Marine Triangle in
establishing the marine sanctuaries.
While
NorAsian and DOE assure the stakeholders that the seismic
survey effects on the environment would be temporary and short-term,
the latter does not intend to take chances, hence the visual
census of fish and other methods, despite the certificate
of non-coverage (CNC) that the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) issued.
To
mobilize and fine tune their next steps, Aumentado is convening
the stakeholders again this Tuesday.
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