The Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement yesterday lauded the Vice Mayors League in Negros Oriental for passing a resolution opposing any extension of oil drilling or any oil exploitation at the protected seascape of Tañon Strait.

This is a “tipping point” in the citizens’ campaign to stop the oil hunt at the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, the group said in a statement, about the resolution passed by the League recently.

Vince Cinches of the STSCM said the resolution is commendable and was not passed through patronage and corruption. The group also lauded the collective opposition by local government officials, including the proponent, Bindoy Vice Mayor Valente Yap.

Tañon Strait is considered one of the 10 richest fishing grounds, and the feeding, breeding and nursery grounds and migratory path of 14 out of 27 species of cetaceans in the Philippines.

The resolution, lawyer Benjamin Cabrido said, effectively destroys the position of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy, that the local government units were consulted and that the approval of the respective Sanggunian of the estimated 40 local government units in TSPS was obtained before the controversial oil drilling.

Meanwhile, marine mammal expert, Dr. Lemnuel Aragones of the University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, welcomed the move, the STSCM statement also said.

Aragones was quoted as saying that Tañon Strait is a unique natural heritage which has local, national and global significance.*

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