UPV experts help-out in Semirara oil spill woes
The grave magnitude of the oil spill in Semirara, Antique has required the involvement of specialists including those from the academe. The release of some 220,000 liters of oil by NAPOCOR has serious impacts on the coastal resources of the island. The problem does not also end in the cleaning up of the spillage. Matters affecting the bio-physical condition of the various waters affected by the spill have to be assessed as well as the health and socio-economic impacts on the people who derive their sources of income from the areas contaminated by the oil. Such studies will identify the effects, determine the extent of contamination and monitor the recovery from such events so that a more realistic contingency plan can be had in the future.
In response to this call to address a major environmental concern, UP in the Visayas Chancellor Glenn D. Aguilar formed the UPV Task Force on the Semirara Oil Spill, chaired by Dr. Rex Sadaba, with Dr. Wilfredo Campos, Dr. Joy Lizada, Dr. Rodelio Subade, Prof. Gay Defiesta, Prof. Mary Ann Naragdao, Mr. Harold Monteclaro, and Mr. Alan Dino Moscoso as members. The committee is assigned to propose and develop UPV's response to the incident, submit proposals for funding by UPV and external agencies, implement projects for the assessment of damage to habitats, socio-economic impacts, and other important concerns. They were also tasked to prepare and present results of the assessment and findings to the external public as well as interface and coordinate with other agencies.
A public hearing of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Oversight Committee on Clean Water was held on February 18, 2006 at Casa Pilar, Boracay Island, Aklan. Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairperson of both senate committees, presided over the discussion. Chancellor Aguilar led the UPV delegation to the meeting. With him were UPV committee members, Dr. Sadaba, Dr. Subade, Dr. Lizada, Prof. Defiesta and Mr. Moscoso who served as resource persons in the hearing, which was done in aid of legislation.
Dr. Sadaba, an expert scientist on mangroves, presented his initial findings which stressed that the affected mangrove area was 113 hectares (and not 236 as media have reported). He also highlighted that the mangrove species therein were highly diverse.
Dr. Subade, for his part, emphasized that for any natural and environmental resources like mangroves, coral reefs, sea grasses and others, the economic values affected are both use and non-use values. Thus, compensation and damage payment by the liable party should be imposed because it is very important that directly affected people are properly compensated for lost income and livelihood. Such, according to Subade, would usually amount to a big sum of money.
(Anna Razel L. Ramirez; UPV-IPO with sources from Drs. Subade & Sadaba)