DENR dares oil drill critics to show proof

An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has dared those who oppose the oil and gas explorations in Tañon Strait to show proof that the project is indeed destructive to marine life.

DENR regional director Leonardo Sibbaluca said that fisherfolk and other groups that say the aquatic life, including the dolphins, within the Tañon Strait is being affected by the recent oil exploration project should submit data to substantiate their claims.

The Department of Energy and its contractor, the Japan Petroleum Explorations Ltd., has just concluded their three-month oil drilling activities off the shores of Aloguinsan and Pinamungajan in southern Cebu to determine the presence of oil or gas deposits.

A total area of 258,000 hectares was covered by the exploration project.

However, some environmentalists and fisherfolk groups opposed the project, saying the exploration is illegal as the area was declared a protected seascape. They said it also has a big effect on the livelihood of many local fishermen who rely on fishing to feed their families because the activity disturbed the marine life.

But the DENR said that under Section 14 of the NIPAS Act states that protected areas, except strict nature reserves and natural parks, may be subjected to exploration only for the purpose of gathering information on energy resources and only if such activity is carried out with the least damage to the surrounding areas.

Sibbaluca explained that the project was able to secure an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the exploration but that another ECC will be needed in case actual conduct of operation is necessary.

The findings of the multi-partite monitoring team (MMT), of which the DENR-7 is a member, stated that the drilling operations did not have significant adverse impact to the environment due to the strict compliance of the project with the environmental laws and regulations.

The DOE, however, refused to reveal whether the exploratory drilling project showed oil in Tañon Strait.

A total of 2,927 sacks of rice were distributed to registered fisherfolks of Aloguinsan and Pinamungahan who are affected by the oil drilling operation. – Wenna A. Berondo/LPM