Fishermen to protest start of Tañon drillings

On the eve of the start of the oil drilling operations in Tañon Strait, fisherfolk will launch today their two month-long protest actions against the project.

Some 200 fishermen from Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan towns will join the protest activity, which would kick off at 10 a.m. today.

The Department of Energy announced that Japan Petroleum Explorations, Inc. will drill its first well off the waters of Pinamungajan and Aloguinsan tomorrow, Thursday.

Vince Cinches, executive director of the Fishermen Development Center appealed to the local authorities to respect the fishermen’s right to freedom of expression and allow them to do their protest activity.

“We remind the government representatives not to disperse the activity or they would be held liable. On our part, we will do our best not to be confrontational,” he said.

Cinches also accused local official of said towns of supporting the project even if there is strong resistance from residents, especially fisherfolk who rely on fishing as their main source of livelihood.

Fishermen, residents, marine biologists and environmentalists earlier vowed to do everything to block the Japanese contractor from starting with the drilling of its first oil well.

The move to block the project’s implementation includes bringing it to the attention of the President and other top officials of the national government and even the Japanese government with which Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. is connected. They are now also preparing a complaint to be filed against the Japanese contractor and other agencies of the government like the Environmental Management Bureau and the DOE for allowing the project in Tañon Strait which is a protected marine area.

As this developed, the fisherfolk gained the support of Sen. Jamby Madrigal who recently filed Senate Resolution No. 141.

In her resolution, Madrigal expressed concern on the possible negative effects of the oil and gas explorations on the health of the people and the environment.

“Most if not all of these oil and gas explorations are being undertaken in the protected seascapes of the country that are rich in marine resources and biodiversity,” she said.

With this, she called for a review on the oil and gas exploration contracts and a study on the effects of their implementation to the environment as well as to the health and livelihood of residents in the affected areas.

Last month, party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, with the support of Cebuano Reps. Eduardo Gullas (1st District), Benhur Salimbangon (4th District) and Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City South District), filed House Resolution 212 directing the House Committee on Natural Resources to investigate the impact of offshore mining in the Visayan Sea.

Many congressmen from areas surrounding the protected seascape have also expressed support for the resolution. – Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV