Fishers dare mayor to block NorAsian

CEBU - Fisherfolk were not contented with the statement made by Sibonga Mayor Leonel Bacaltos who said he would perform an “arrest” of the NorAsian Energy Ltd. for the alleged violations committed by the company when it conducted a seismic survey in the Cebu-Bohol strait.

“Gisaad ni sa mayor pero ang mga mangingisda wa nakontento,” said Wilbert Dimol, spokesman of the militant fishermen’s group Panaghugpong sa Gagmay’ng Mananagat sa Sugbo.

“Kung dili sila makabuhat, ang mga mangingisda mismo ang mobuhat,” Dimol further said in a phone interview with The FREEMAN. 

Yesterday, the Sibonga fisher folks had a dialogue with the Department of Energy and Mayor Bacaltos.

“Duha among tumong sa pagpakig-istorya. Una, giduso sa mga mananagat nga i-pull out na ang NorAsia. Ikaduha, kuhaon ang side ni mayor (on the issue),” Dimol said.

He alleged that NorAsian have committed several violations during the conduct of their survey. “More than 10 ka payaw (artificial reefs) ang ila giguba nga duha ra man unta ang gikasabutan.”

“Ikaduha, ang ilang violation sa pagsulod… 15 kilometers away from the shore nga sakop pa sa municipal water,” Dimol added.

Likewise, Dimol added that NorAsian was only supposed to conduct the seismic survey in four days as what they have agreed, but the activity lasted more than four days and the company did not tell the DOE the reason why they need to extend.

In a report over TV patrol last night, DOE regional director Antonio Labios said there was just a miscommunication between the DOE and the local government of Sibonga on the matter.

The DOE, however, assured that the oil exploration activities would not create harmful effects to the marine life and livelihood of the people in the area.

The seismic survey reportedly ended only last night and NorAsias is set to conduct the same activity off the waters of Argao. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/WAB (THE FREEMAN)