PUNTA BURI ISLAND, Ajuy - While the oil slick from a sunken oil tanker reached this island's coastal areas it was immediately contained by residents through a "bayanihan system," and there is nothing to be alarmed about for the towns and cities in northern Negros yet, the Negros Search and Rescue Ecological Foundation said.

A survey made by NSREF members and Cadiz CREATE Rescue Group yesterday, which covered 20 miles of the territorial waters of northern portion of Negros and Iloilo, yielded negative results either of oil slick or sheen. Victor Puey, vice president of the NSREF, who led the survey, however, said they are not taking chances and have enlisted the help of fishermen in the coastal areas of northern Negros and Iloilo, to report any presence of oil slick so immediate action could be taken.

Residents here said they gathered all the oil slick and placed them in drums, employing the "bayanihan system", with the participation of students, on Sunday.

The oil sheen reported in E.B. Magalona could not be found during a survey made by the town's Bantay Dagat members yesterday and it is believed to have drifted towards the coastal areas of Ajuy in Iloilo, Senior Inspector Santiago Rapiz said.

Rapiz said E.B. Magalona Mayor Alfonso Gamboa also tapped the town fishermen in monitoring presence of any oil spill in their barangays.

Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario told the DAILY STAR last night that oil sheen has already reached the coastal areas of Brgy. Bonacan, Madridejos town of Bantayan island, about two hours from the coastal areas of Cadiz and Sagay City.

M/T Solar 1 owned by the Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. and chartered by Petron initially spilled more than 100,000 liters of bunker fuel into the sea when it sank Aug. 11 off Guimaras due to rough weather. The tanker was carrying an estimated two million liters of bunker fuel.

Rep. Rolex Suplico of the 5th District, Iloilo, which also covers the coastal towns of Ajuy and Concepcion towns facing Manapla and Cadiz, called on the private sector to help government combat the spill. He warned that the spill could pollute the Visayan Sea which, he said, supplies 50 percent of the country's fish.

His observation was shared by Puey who also said the Visayan sea is the fishing ground for northern Negros-based fishing vessels.

Using the speedboat of sugar planter Manolet Lamata and the fishing vessel of Puey, the NSREF members, accompanied by Cadiz City Councilor Samson Mirhan and Agriculturist Ike Escario, also inspected the Tinagong Dagat and Anhawan island of northern Iloilo, for any presence of oil spill.

It was business as usual for the Lacawon Beach Resort, which is located within the territorial waters of Cadiz City, Puey said.

Senator Serge Osmeña tapped NSREF that is chaired by Lamata in monitoring the movement of oil spill, he added.*GPB

back to top