City to extend help to Guimaras in oil spill clean-up
City Mayor Jerry Treñas assured that the city government will extend manpower to the provincial government of Guimaras in their effort to contain and clean up the oil spill in the island. The oil spill will be a major environmental disaster should they fail to contain the bunker oil coming from the sunken M/T Solar I.
Treñas said he has already instructed City Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Noel Hechanova to coordinate with the provincial officials of the island-province on the help they wish to extend.
Earlier, the Iloilo provincial government also manifested their support to extend manpower resources to Guimaras. Other than the local government units, several volunteer groups in the city had also expressed their willingness to help in the clean-up drive.
The chief executive has also ordered the creation of a task force to draw up plans in case the oil slick reaches the city. The task force will be composed of City Agriculture Gil Parreñas, City Disaster and Coordinating Council head Jose Papa and Hechanova.
The chief executive said they have also a yacht to be used in monitoring the situation along Iloilo and Guimaras Strait.
On the other hand, Hechanova said they are not equipped on how to handle such big environmental disaster in Guimaras. He said they are only knowledgeable as far as the presence of oil depots in the city.
He said they can only handle oil spill problems along Iloilo River. Nevertheless, they are coming up with a prepared plan should oil spill affects the city. Their main concern will be the environment and the livelihood of people who are banking on their catch along the Iloilo River.
The volume of fish catch will decrease and its selling price will soar up because of the oil spill. The oil spill is considered as pollutants on the waters and threatens all marine life.