Mayor  Hector Villanueva  yesterday expressed  fear   that  Bais  City  may lose its most  treasured  tourist  attraction – the dolphins – due to the decreasing  number  of  the species along  the  Tañon Strait.

He said that, based on observations by city  tourism  officials, only five  to six dolphins  are appearing  at  random  along  the  Tañon Strait even  during  fair  weather.

Some dolphins  appear  at a  distance  but  they disappear upon hearing  the  sound  of a motorboat, Villanueva  said, adding that  he  is  alarmed  by this  situation.

He  said  they used  to  hear  dolphins  whistling  and  some  even  swimming with  the  motorboats, and this had lured local and foreign tourists in the past.

Villanueva  said the  decreasing number of dolphins  could  be  due  to  the  drilling exploration  of  the  Japan Exploration  Company  in the strait. The  exploration  started   late  last year  and  was  extended  in  search  of possible  oil deposits  in  the  area.

Last  year , the  contract  of   JAPEX expired  but  they  asked  for  an  extension  during  a meeting held  with  the  Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, local government units concerned, and  the  private  sector. 

During  the  meeting  Villanueva  opposed  the  extension of  the  drilling  exploration, stressing that this might  further  destroy   the marine  life.  Majority   of those present, however, approved  the  extension of  the  project  as JAPEX  claimed their  operation  had been hampered  by bad  weather  during the original drilling date, he added.

Villanueva   said he will submit  a  written report on the drilling issue to President Gloria Arroyo, who was in  Dumaguete  City last week.*MA

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