Give oil exploration a chance — Magpale

CEBU, Philippines - While provincial government officials have assured environmentalists that their opposition on the oil exploration in the municipality of Aloguinsan would be looked into, they are also asking for the groups to give the said oil operation in the town "a chance."

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said yesterday that they will see to it that safety measures in the oil drilling project in Aloguinsan would be implemented in response to the petition filed by three caused-oriented groups before the Cebu Provincial Government, urging them to stop the oil exploration in the town.

In their petition paper, the Philippine Earth Justice Center, Inc. (PEDC), Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)-Cebu and Central Visayas Farmers Development Center (Fardec) called for a halt in the "ongoing oil exploration" in Aloguinsan citing "legal, social, health, climate and ecological grounds."

However, Magpale appealed to give the operation a chance.

"Di sad nato i-judge, tagaan sad nato og chance kay we need this."

As for Governor Hilario Davide III, he said that he has not read the petition yet but assured that he will look into it once he receives the letter and that they will hear the position of the stakeholders on the matter.

The petition paper of the three groups was addressed to Davide, Magpale and all Provincial Board members.

In a previous statement, Aloguinsan acting mayor Augustus Cesar Moreno maintained his position on the discovery of oil in the town and that its presence would give positive effects in terms of the boost of Aloguinsan's economy.

The opposing groups, however, said that fossil fuel is a major contributor to climate change.

"Oil is a fossil fuel and a major driver of climate change. The incessant burning of fossil fuels has caused the overload of carbon concentration in the atmosphere and triggered an upheaval in our climate system and affected the Philippines, as the third most vulnerable country to climate change. Allowing the oil exploration is putting us in harm's way," stressed in the petition letter.

The Gas2Grid Limited, a foreign firm behind the oil exploration, started its exploration in 2005. In their website, they announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized the oil exploration in Aloguinsan as an oil discovery.

Based on the initial assessment of Gas2Grid, the potential oil volume spotted in the Malolos oil field was described as "contingent resource" and ranges between a low estimate of 4 million barrels and a high estimate of 42 million barrels with the best estimate of 12 million barrels of total oil in place.

Meanwhile, Magpale told the media that one of the requirements to declare the Malolos oil field as commercially viable is its need to produce 3,000 barrels a day.

Magpale reiterated that they are hoping that they can bridge the gap between the investors and the environmentalists by assuring to watch over operations and that safety measures will be implemented.  (FREEMAN)