Fishing groups stage rally against oil explorations

CEBU, Philippines – The Panaghugpong sa Gagmayng Mangingisda sa Sugbo (PAMANA-Sugbo) and the Alyansa sa mga Gagmayng Mananagat Batok sa Hulga sa NorAsian (AMBAHAN) held a protest in front of the Department of Energy-7 office at the Metrobank Building yesterday morning over the NorAsian Energy Limited offshore operations near towns along the Bohol Strait.

Fisherfolks from Talisay City and Cordova town, representatives from some concerned women’s organization and officials from PAMANA-Sugbo and AMBAHAN attended the rally yesterday.

They called as illegal the memorandum of understanding signed by the municipalities of Argao and Sibonga, DOE and Governor Gwen Garcia last April 15 allowing NorAsian Energy Ltd., an Australian-owned company to explore for oil in the strait.

PAMANA-Sugbo chairman Victor Lapaz said the MOU is illegal because there was no proper consultation made with the fisherfolks.

He said that they already sent a letter to the governor asking for reconsideration on the issue, but they have not received a reply until now.

“Murag wala naman gyuy plano si governor nga i-reconsider pa to… mao nga maghimo nalang mi ug mga massive action bahin niini,” Lapaz added.

The legal officers of the group had already sent a communication to the Australian ambassador regarding the matter.

Lapaz said the next thing they will do is forward the complaint to the president and conduct a massive educational program to the fisherfolks in Argao and Sibonga.

From DOE, the protesters marched toward Plaza Independencia. — Grace C. Guiang and Sarah Jane A. Nengasca (THE FREEMAN)