Fishermen: Fake group asking Japex for aid

Apart from the issue of oil exploration in Tañon Strait that affected their livelihood, fishermen have faced a new problem - a bogus group of fishermen disguising as claimants to financial help from the Japanese drilling company.

About 150 fishermen from Pinamungajan recently asked for help from third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia to stop this allegedly bogus group from getting money from the Japanese firm, Japan Petroleum Exploration Inc., or Japex.

Japex had earlier committed to give financial help to thousands of fishermen of the town whose livelihood has been direly affected by the oil exploration that started since November 15.

Garcia said he also received reports that these bogus fishermen were mostly supporters of a top government official in the province and that they further asked the company P250 each in payment for their “lost livelihood.”

Garcia said he advised the complaining fishermen’s organization to register its name with the Securities and Exchange Commission to obtain recognition as the legitimate group entitled to remuneration from Japex.

The congressman promised to help these fishermen register their group with the SEC.

The fishermen, cause-oriented groups and environment advocates have criticized the offshore oil exploration on Tañon Strait citing underwater noise and oil spill that have allegedly turned the area a restrictive one for fishing.

Vince Cinches, executive director of the Fisherfolks Development Center, earlier said that Japex must stop its oil drilling pending the petition of some groups to revoke the Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The fishermen’s group has been seeking also for a Senate investigation of the exploration, while it cited the resulting destruction to marine life in the area.

Earlier, Bayan partylist representatives Teodoro Casino and Satur Ocampo filed a joint resolution directing the House committee on natural resources and ecology to conduct an inquiry “ in aid of legislation” over the approval of the exploration in Tañon Strait.

The two argued that Republic Act 7686, or the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Land, declared protected area the 185-kilometer long Tañon Strait.

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that Tañon Strait was among of the top 10 fishing grounds in the country for its large and quality stocks, such as blue marlin and tuna.

The exploration came after the Department of Energy reported that the strait contains huge deposits of oil and natural gas with an estimated output of billions of barrels, or more than double with the Malampaya oil field in Palawan province.

The group’s resolution says: “The use of high-voltage air guns and huge boats around the Strait pose dangers to marine life, …, fish egg sanctuaries, corals, and other marine resources … to small fishers and commercial and cargo ships who may be caught by electric shock.”

The resolution also stated that fishkills took place in nearby cities and towns of Cebu and Negros Oriental but Garcia did not sign the document yet because some of its parts have “very brazen facts.”

Garcia said he welcomed the congressional inquiry on the matter but found the fishkill story an ill-conceived one.

Garcia earlier ordered his staff to check the areas of supposedly fishkills but the conclusion showed there was no such thing there, he said but added that he welcomed any congressional inquiry on the matter. – Gerome M. Dalipe/RAE