Oil survey halt order lauded

CEBU - The order of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to not allow oil exploration surveys in the seabed along the municipalities of Sibonga and Argao towns received positive feedback from environmentalists.

“We laud the move of Gov. Gwen Garcia to stop DOE and NorAsia from wreaking further havoc. This move should enable our local officials to rethink oil exploration,” said Vince Cinches of the Save Tañon Strait Citizens Movement.

Garcia recently issued Executive No. 9 ordering the Department of Energy Regional-7 to refrain from its activities.

“It is hereby ordered, the Department of Energy Regional Office-7, its officers, agents and all other persons acting for and on behalf, to cease and desist from continuing in the conduct of any and all oil exploration surveys and other related works in the seabed and seawaters of the municipalities of Argao and Sibonga, both of the Province of Cebu, until such time that the required consultations shall be made and all legitimate concerns of the concerned parties shall have been properly addressed,” the order read.

Section 2 of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that the policy of the state to “require all national agencies and offices to conduct periodic consultations with appropriate local government units, non-governmental and people’s organizations, and other concerned sectors of the community before any project or program is implemented in their respective jurisdictions.”

Garcia said the activities of the DOE were undertaken without consultation with all parties concerned, particularly the provincial government and the towns of Argao and Sibonga.

In her executive order, Garcia also ordered the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies of the government to implement the cease-and-desist order.

In the press statement, Cinches claimed the oil exploration was destroying the marine environment and dislocating the fisherfolks.

The fishermen complained they were driven away every time the vessel carrying survey equipment passes through their town’s waters. They said that a vessel of the Coast Guard is often seen leading the survey vessel.

NorAsia, an Australian oil and gas exploring firm, funded and operated the oil and gas exploration activities in the Tañon Strait, the Cebu-Bohol Strait and off Argao.

The movement hopes the executive order of the governor will be permanent and wants DOE and Nor-Asia to be held accountable citing that the oil mining will compromise the integrity of the marine resources that will lead to the destruction of the ecosystem.

“We will work to make the impact of the Executive Order permanent and work for the total and absolute ban of oil mining activities in Central Philippines —the epicenter of global marine biodiversity,” Cinches said.

The DOE regional office, Cebu Provincial Police Office, Philippine Navy, and the Offices of the Mayor of the municipalities of Argao and Sibonga were furnished with copies of the said order. — Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)