Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo (5th district, Neg. Occ) yesterday said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, amid the recent Guimaras oil spill, sough the support of heads of Asian and European nations at the 6th Asia-Europe Meeting in Finland to forge a stronger cooperation on marine environment protection and scientific research.

"The government is working on technology transfer for the protection of mangroves and coastal areas, including protection against air pollution," said the solon, who is with the President on her European trip.

The MT Solar 1 carrying 1.2 million liters of Petron bunker fuel sank off the coast of Guimaras on August 11 causing an oil spill to hit the coasts of Guimaras and Iloilo, and threaten the coasts of Negros Occidental.

Western Visayas officials are calling on national government officials to hasten the salvaging of MT Solar 1 and its cargo before the fuel in its containers further leak causing more damage to coastlines.

As of press time no word was available on whether some agreement has been reached and how and when the sunken fuel will be removed from the bottom of the Panay Gulf.

During the weekend small pockets of solidified oil the size of 25-centavo coins landed in Barangay Patic, Pulupandan, but yesterday no oil sheen was seen in Negros Occidental waters, Vicfran Defante, Provincial Disaster Management Team, chief said. Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia said the coin-sized solidified oil that landed in Patic were few and did not cause any damage to the coastline. In fact he said yesterday no signs of oil sheen was seen in Guimaras waters.

Rep. Arroyo, who is with the President on her European trip, said the President's concern for the marine environment has prompted her to push the "Manila Vision and Action Plan" at the ASEM.

The President's strong push for the two regions -- Asia and Europe -- to forge a stronger cooperation on marine environment protection and scientific research came amid the rapid degradation of the world's oceans, a statement from Malacañang also said yesterday. The President said the "Manila Vision and Action Plan" is a blueprint for cooperation between the two regions in marine governance, marine environmental protection and marine research and development for mutual benefit.

The Action Plan states that marine environmental protection is a much-needed response to the global challenge of the deteriorating condition of the world oceans that impact on the socio-economic well-being of Asia and Europe.

Rep. Arroyo also said the government will try to promote Negros products in succeeding trade fairs in Europe.

He said that, while in Finland, he also visited a factory that use coconut husks for biofuels, for possible replication in the Philippines.*CPG

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