Oil sludge dumped on the shoreline blamed for high level of toxins

By Maricar M. Calubiran

STOCKPILES of collected oil sludge and debris dumped along the affected barangays in Nueva Valencia and Sibunag, which are yet to be barged out by Petron Corp., are blamed for the high level of toxins which caused respiratory illnesses among the residents.

A physician who asked not to be named said for as long as the collected oil sludge remain on the shore it will pose danger to the health of the residents and to the environment. The government seems to be haphazard in how to deal with, and when to dispose the collected oil sludge, the physician observed.

The same source said Petron and the government should act as soon as possible so that the level of toxins would go down. Residents are exposed to hydrogen sulfide and aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene.

Recently, the Department of Health (DOH) traced that some of the affected barangays especially in Sitio Naoway, Nueva Valencia yielded 6.8 parts per million (ppm) hydrogen sulfide. The level of hydrogen sulfide is way above the normal level set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau and the United States of America Environmental Agency.

(For the full story, click The News Today, Sept. 18, 2006.)

DoJ’s ‘another ship’ theory, and Petron’s moro-moro

DoJ to see whether hole in tanker ‘deliberate’; Petron denies overloading
INQ7.net, ABS-CBN

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) Special Task Force on the Guimaras Oil Spill will begin looking into the possibility the hull of the M/T Solar I, whose August 11 sinking caused one of the country’s worst oil spills, was deliberately punctured during oil smuggling operations.

As this developed, Petron Corp. on Monday refuted the Board of Marine Inquiry’s findings that M/T Solar 1 was overloaded when it sank off the coast of Guimaras Island last month.

“The record will bear out the fact that the oil cargo of Petron that was loaded on Solar 1 was below the maximum load limit or capacity of the vessel per its vessel particulars,” Petron said in a letter sent to Jurisita Quintos, senior vice president of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Luis Maglaya, Petron corporate secretary and compliance officer, said that according to records, Solar 1’s oil load before it sank was 2.19 million liters. She said the load was only 98 percent of the ship’s actual capacity of 2.24 million liters.

In a memorandum to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, undersecretary Fidel J. Exconde Jr. said they have already summoned the Philippine Coast Guard to bring them a copy of the video of the sunken tanker taken by the Japanese salvage vessel Shinsei Maru.

Exconde said information they have received showed a remote-controlled submersible from the Shinsei Maru captured on video a triangular hole on the port side of the Solar I, scratches on different parts of the vessel and open valves on some compartments where oil is stored.

“These findings bolster the theory that another ship was traveling alongside M/T Solar I when it sank and it probably caused the triangular hole in the hull of M/T Solar I,” Exconde said.

(For the full stories, click No overloading, Sept. 18, 2006.)

Australia pledges nearly $150,000 aid for oil spill victims

AUSTRALIA is contributing 196,000 Australian dollars (147,400 US dollars) in emergency aid to the Philippines following a major oil spill that displaced thousands of residents and damaged pristine marine environments, the Australian Embassy said Monday.

The aid package was pledged after the tanker, Solar I, sank in rough seas off the central Philippines’ Guimaras island province on August 11, spilling some of its 500,000 gallons of industrial fuel oil and forcing 39,000 people from their homes.

The fund will be used to provide shelter, food and school supplies for children in the worst-affected areas. The money would also be used to fund day care centers, tents for temporary shelters, medicine, water and sanitation equipment, an embassy statement said.

The oil spill has affected residents in 58 villages of Guimaras and the nearby province of Iloilo, and threatens 37 more towns in Iloilo and two other provinces, according to the latest figures released by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

The spill has damaged 1,143 hectares (2,824 acres) of marine reserve, 234 kilometers (145 miles) of coastline, 478 hectares (1,181 acres) of mangroves and nearly 16 square kilometers (6 square miles) of coral reef, the NDCC said.

The agency said some 68.65 million pesos (1.35 million dollars) have been spent so far to assist displaced residents and to clean up the environment. There was no immediate estimate available of the total cost of clean-up operations. Associated Press

(From INQ7.net, Sept. 18, 2006.)

Governor vows to file libel for Petron rumor-mongering

By Jay Dooma Balnig

GUIMARAS Governor JC Rahman Nava was angered by the report tagging him as the one who dealt with Petron Corporation regarding the oil dispersants and vowed to file a libel case against those behind the allegations.

In an interview, Nava lambasted Petron for “making such allegations. This is a serious matter. This is libelous!”

The issue, published September 14 as a blind item in a local daily in Iloilo, said: “Guv sells dispersants to us also. At his price, mahal.” The newspaper quoted a source from an official of Petron who asked not to be named.

Nava admitted that several Petron people visited his office. “In fact, they told me that their chairman wants to talk to me in Manila. But I told them, my office is in Guimaras.” Nava added.

Nava lambasted Petron for being inconsistent.

“My demand is very simple. Bring your waste out of Guimaras,” he said.

(For the full story, click Libel vs Petron, Sept. 18, 2006.)

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HOW low can Petron go? Its officials have sank lower than the sludge they have yet to clean up in Guimaras, apparently. Unable to control the legitimate media from shining the spotlight on their missteps in handling the tragedy, they are trying to turn the tables on the one man who is trying to valiantly lead the Guimarasnons out of the misery they are now facing. Go Gov. Nava! File your libel case against these guys. Or guy. There really is only one company executive there who has been working with Petron’s amateur PR consultants in trying to pollute the environment with the company’s lies.

The problem with Petron’s newest PR strategy is, it is targetting a man whose reputation is unsullied. Gov. Nava comes from a long line of doctors and has an untainted history of public service. You need not wonder why he is loved by his constituents in Guimaras. And unlike most traditional politicians, Gov. Nava is progressive and puts his constituents’ needs before his own. No wonder he sticks out like a sore thumb. And for this, I salute him.

Perhaps Gov. Nava, it is time for you to stick it to Petron and tell the public exactly how its officials have been trying to make you shut up and just accept the deal the company is offering. Maybe you should tell the media just exactly how much Petron put on the table in exchange for your silence. Speak up Gov! and tell us why Petron is now trying to get back at you.

By the way, how arrogant of Petron chairman Nick Alcantara to even summon Gov. Nava to his office in Manila! You’re the one one who wants the meeting and you want the governor to come to you? Pwede siguro ‘yang style mo sa Saranggani or Gen. Santos, pero hindi sa Guimaras, oy! What gall! And your paid hacks even try to portray you as a “man for others” because of your Atenean background? Tsk, tsk, tsk! Let’s see what Fr. Bernas has to say about that!

As for that publication that let its pages be used for those lies about Gov. Nava, shame on you! While on the whole, its reporters’ stories have been fair and objective about the oil spill issue, obviously some of its columnists have already gone to the dark side. I just hope that paper’s management wakes up and, like Gov. Nava, will put the needs of its readers for THE TRUTH first, before personal gain.

From our mailbox…

Hi, i visit your blog site and I find it very helpful in our campaign to address the issues and concerns related to the oil spill in Guimaras. We are an alliance of multi-sectoral groups here in Panay and Guimaras composed of non-government organizations, environmentalists, local legislators, church people, scientists, artists, students, medical practitioners, teachers, institutions and affected local communities in Guimaras. I am sending you our recent (September 16) media release during our press conference. Hope you can post this in your blog site. I’ll be sending you also our materials about our organization as well as our unity statement.

Thanks.

Hope Hervilla
Secretariate
Save our Lives, SOS! Panay and Guimaras

SAVE OUR LIVES, SOS!– Panay and Guimaras
c/o Madiaas Ecological Movement, Room203 La Salette
Bldg.,
Valeria St., IloiloCity 5000
Tel. No. 300-04-08

Reference: Ma.Geobelyn Lopez
Convenor, Save our Lives, SOS –Panay and Guimaras
Cel.No. 09272340664

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A Month After the Oil Spill Tragedy: What Next?

Guimaras is on its 36th day of the oil spill tragedy yet there is still no definite time frame when to remove the sunken oil tanker. Until now, there is no commitment on the part of Petron and the national government to remove the source of threat of more oil spill despite demands from the people.

The Guimarasnons have already suffered too much.

Their economic activities have been paralyzed and their health situation is deteriorating. The affected communities’ psycho-social patterns have changed alarmingly from being self-reliant to relief-dependent on outside sources.

Save our Lives, SOS-Panay and Guimaras would like to reiterate our strong demand to Petron Corporation and the Arroyo government, for the immediate removal of the remaining bunker fuel in the sunken tanker. Moreover, a medium- and long-term response for relief and rehabilitation has to be delivered by Petron and the national government as measures to compensate for their accountability in the tragedy.

We are calling on all concerned sectors in the region, national and international level to join us in helping the people of Guimaras. Guimarasons deserve a clean environment and just compensation from Petron Corporation, Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation and the Arroyo government. Let us unite with the people of Guimaras in the fight to restore social justice.

Scientists urge gov’t to reveal true state of oil spill

• Gov’t exec denies involvement on ‘gag order’ v. Coast Guard
Sunstar, Sept, 18, 2006

AFTER government’s gag order on the MT Solar 1 oil spill issue, scientists and environmentalists warned against hiding information about the incident from the public.

Aloysius Baiz, environmental chemist from the Center for Environmental Concern, said that with the gag order, government appears to be concealing what’s really happening.

The government instructed several government agencies like the Philippine Coast Guard to refrain from issuing any statement regarding the update on the spill.

Baiz added that people are still worried over the MT Solar 1 situation.

“The public has the right to know the effects of the oil spill and the status of the cleanup,” the group said.

Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Lito Coscolluela recently denied allegations that he was responsible for issuing gag order on the Philippine Coast Guard, on the current oil spill in Guimaras.

“The coast guards are accusing me, but I have not issued a gag order to anybody. In fact, I’ve been mediating between Petron and the Coast Guard and now this is the effect of what I’ve done,” Coscolluela said.By JDB and Nico C. Delfin

For the full stories, click Reveal and Lito denies.)

Mar favors oil siphoning from sunken tanker

By Danny B. Dangcalan

FOR Senator Mar Roxas, siphoning the remaining bunker fuel from the sunken tanker is the best and safest option to contain the oil spill.

Roxas, who visited Bacolod City on Saturday, said all other options are risky and could pose more damage to marine ecology.

The National Government earlier considered three options to contain the remaining oil from the tanker: siphon the oil through the use of high-tech pipes, re-float the tanker using a salvage vessel, or entomb the sunken vessel by cementing it so as not to cause further leakage.

Roxas, speaking from his experience as a scuba diver, said the re-floating option is dangerous as the structural pressure changes in the process of lifting the vessel.

“If the vessel breaks due to this pressure, the remaining bunker fuel would leak, thereby posing greater damage to the marine resources,” he said.

(For the full story, click Sunstar, Sept. 18, 2006.)

RISKY STRATEGIES

Siphoning bunker oil may cause another spill – experts
By GEROME DALIPE IV
Panay News, Sept. 18, 2006

ILOILO City – Experts challenged the plan to siphon the remaining bunker oil out of the sunken Solar 1 tanker at the bottom of the Guimaras Strait. It could trigger another oil spill, they warned.

For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) said workers hired by Petron Corp. in the oil spill cleanup should properly be apprised of the health risks related their work. It was learned that the workers were not informed of the adverse health effects of their continued exposure to bunker fuel.

Re-floating the tanker is the better option, asserted Dr. Giovanni A. Tapang and Dr. Aloysius U. Baes of the Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC) and Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan (Agham).

According to the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Disaster Coordinating Council, holes could be drilled in the tanker’s fuel tanks through which tubes can be inserted to siphon out the remaining bunker fuel.

But Tapang and Baes said the tanker must be re-floated at the soonest possible time, while the water current is still favorable to the tanker which lies 600 meters underwater.

Earlier, Gerry Ledesma of the Negros Forest and Marine Conservation Foundation said strong westerly winds bringing strong sea current could rupture the sunken M/T Solar 1 and start leaking bunker fuel again.

Acting with speed is a must, said Tapang and Baes who were here over the weekend. They are among the many scientists who would be conducting technical assessment on the widespread impact of the worst oil spill to hit the country, on marine life and mangrove reserves in the island province.

WINDS OF CHANGE

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier said there is a need to fast track the MT Solar 1 oil spill cleanup before a typhoon affects Visayas in the coming weeks or before the wind pattern reverses in November.

PAGASA officer-in-charge Dr. Prisco Nilo said that the entry of a typhoon that could affect Guimaras would accelerate the transport of oil spill to the north.

Nilo also said that if a typhoon would directly pass the site of the oil spill, the ocean current will cause the oil to spill in different directions.

Nilo said the oil spill cleanup must be fast tracked before the wind pattern reverses in November which could possibly “transport” the oil spill in the vicinity of the Visayas.

He added that from the current wind pattern from southwest to the northeast, the wind pattern will completely reverse, resulting to the transport of the spilled oil towards Mindanao and Southern Visayas area this November up to around February or early March.

Tapang and Baes said the continued stay of tanker in the seabed puts at continued risk the environment and marine life.

The Save our Lives and Save or Seas (SOS) said the oil spill has affected at least 4,000 fishermen and roughly 26,000 individuals.

The plan to siphon the remaining oil from the sunken tanker still has to get the approval of the International Oil Pollution Compensation, said IOPC representative Joe Nichols.

During the siphoning, “there is little risk of a significant release of oil from the vessel,” he added.

Nichols said the IOPC could choose between at least six companies from Norway, Italy, and The Netherlands to take out the remaining oil from the tanker.

The Philippine Coast Guard favors the siphoning. If the PCG-recommended Norwegian company – Framo Engineering – would be hired to siphon the remaining bunker oil, it would take at least one month for it to arrive in the Philippines.

The PCG recommended the Norwegian company, citing its experience and knowledge in handling such cases.

Task Force Guimaras chairman Rafael Coscolluela said, however, that it remains uncertain if the Norwegian company would be tapped.

Nichols said an estimated 1.3 million of the two million liters of bunker fuel has leaked out of Solar I since August 11.

It also remains to be seen if IOPC would shoulder the cost of the siphoning, which could take around 20 days, Nichols added.

If the IOPC decides to shoulder the siphoning, it would take several more weeks to plan the operations, Nichols said.

HEALTH RISK

Meanwhile, Task Force Oil Spill (SOS) reiterated that the “No Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), No Work” policy and adherence to protective requirements should be observed by all workers in the oil spill areas.

The DOH said the PPEs are very important as they can minimize exposure to hazards. In the use of the PPE, it is important that a “buddy system” approach should be adapted whereby the other partner checks their partner for correctness of use of PPEs and vice versa. At the end of the use of the PPEs, these should be disposed of properly and all new PPEs are recommended for each work session.

To safeguard the health of those who are involved in the clean up, the DOH said workers should properly be apprised of the health risks related to the oil spill clean up. The registry of all cleaners should not only include basic data but also baseline health status of the worker at the time they are hired.

A regular medical evaluation of the worker should also be made up to six months after the worker has stopped doing the clean up.

Maximum daily exposure of the workers per day, according to the DOH, should not exceed five hours. Having the workers clean on a rotation basis, with different teams working in the mornings and afternoons, could do this.

Age limits have also been set for the cleaners, that they should not be less than 20 and not more than 50 years old so they can adequately perform their assigned tasks.