The Simala Bantay Dagat Association, Langtad Fisherfolks Association, and Pamana sa Sugbo will be having a fluvial parade in protest to the reported clearing operations being started in Sibonga and Argao recently as a prelude to the scheduled oil drilling activity in the seawaters of said towns.
These groups backed by the Save Tañon Strait Citizen’s Movement will be conducting the protest tomorrow, Thursday, against NorAsian Energy Limited, the same energy company that had conducted an oil exploration in Tañon Strait, west of Cebu Island.
Fishermen protesters from barangay Simala in Sibonga, and barangays Taluod, Langtad and Bogo in Argao will be aboard 100 pump boats, this was learned.
Wilbert Dimol, spokesperson of Pamana sa Sugbo, said that the protest is to reiterate their call for the oil exploration to be stopped being detrimental to marine resources and would trigger displacement of more fishermen, he said.
The said groups have also endorsed a petition to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, particularly the Environment Management Bureau; the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Department of Energy. The petition contains the groups’ statements against offshore mining.
A copy of the petition will also be submitted to the provincial government addressing the governor to help them in their plea. – Cressida Paula G. Delmo/MEEV