Let people decide on plan to drill oil in Argao – mayor

Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos yesterday said it is now up to the people of Argao to decide whether they would allow the oil drilling activities in their town or not.

The mayor made the statement following recent reports on opposition of barangay officials on the plan of NorAsia Energy Ltd. to conduct oil and gas drilling activities off the waters of the municipality.

“Atong kuhaon ang pulso sa katawhan. Kung dili sila mosugot, wala ta’y mahimo,” Galeos said in an interview, pointing out that it is the people’ decision that should be considered.

“Dili man ako ang tag-iya sa lugar, ang katawhan man” he added.

Weeks ago, NorAsia, an Australian offshore mining company conducted consultations with the residents of different barangays of Argao.

Once the consultations are completed, a site survey will be conducted in January next year to determine the presence of oil deposits in the area.

The FREEMAN reported last week that some residents complained that the consultations conducted by the company were ineffective because NorAsia was not able to give them complete details of the project.

Further, two board members of the Association of Barangay Councils in Argao already conveyed their opposition to it.

Two months after the oil and gas exploration activities in Tañon Strait ended, the Department of Energy announced in April the plan for another exploration drilling off the waters of Cebu, particularly Argao before the year ends.

NorAsia, a hundred-percent owned subsidiary of Australian-based Ottoman Energy Ltd., was awarded Service Contract 51, which covers Argao prospects in Cebu and Cabilao island off Loon town in Bohol.

Otto Energy earlier said that deposits in the Argao and Cabilao area are confirmed to contain up to 270 million barrels (MMbbls) of recoverable oil in conventional sandstone reservoirs.

NorAsia is expected to spend $45 million to $50 million for the project.  — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/WAB