Group to conduct economic research on oil spill damage formed
The Economy and Environment Program for South East Asia (EEPSEA), a research secretariat/network based in Singapore is providing research funds for a group of researchers from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) to determine the costs of the damage caused by the oil spill from M/T Solar 1 tanker chartered by Petron to transport 2 million liters of bunker fuel oil to Mindanao. The tanker sunk 32 kilometers south of Guimaras, within the Panay Gulf, due to strong waves and unfavorable weather conditions on August 11, 2006.
The EEPSEA-supported study has set the following objectives:
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identify the affected stakeholders,
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document how the various stakeholders respond to deal with the oil spill,
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estimate the economic values of environmental damages caused by the oil spill focusing on direct and indirect use values,
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develop mechanism by which the damage fee will be collected and utilized, and
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recommend possible policies on how to address the oil spill.
The research proponent and project leader of this study is Dr. Rodelio F. Subade, while his team members are Prof. Gay Defiesta, Dr. Joy Lizada, Prof. Mary Ann Naragdao and Prof. Jorge Ebay. The modest research support covers field costs, office supplies and social survey materials and research expenses and salaries of research assistants that will be hired by the UPV team.
"Though there are no honoraria for the UPV researchers, this research work provides an opportunity for UPV faculty and researchers to be of service to the country. By coming up with the much-needed research-based information and results, decision-making and mechanisms in dealing with the oil spill, particularly the damage claims of the disadvantaged people, can be strengthened," Dr. Subade explained.
Once the results of the team's study are ready, these shall be made available to the Guimaras LGU and may also be presented in a public forum.
Dr. Subade added that what the country needs is a comprehensive policy and mechanism to quickly respond to oil spills and any form of marine pollution occurrence. Coastal communities need training on how to act when such incident happens. Key cities or ports in the country must be ready with adequate equipment for this eventuality. The affected people should also have commensurate compensation for their lost income and ill health.
This group tackling the economic aspect is part of the UPV Guimaras (Solar 1-Petron) Oil Spill Task Force being chaired by Dr. Rex Sadaba, a mangrove expert, and co-chaired by Dr. Joy Lizada, Dean of the College of Management, as UPV's technical assistance to the Guimaras local government. The economic study will also attempt to assess the value of the damage in other affected areas like the towns of Negros Occidental and Northern Iloilo.
EEPSEA was established in May 1993 to support training and research in environmental and resource economics. Its goal is to strengthen local capacity for the economic analysis of environmental problems so that researchers can provide sound advice to policymakers. EEPSEA is being funded by the International Development Research Center of Canada, the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Early this year, EEPSEA also provided counterpart funding support for the research project "Economic Valuation of Damages Caused by the Semirara Oil Spill" conducted by the same UPV research team. The EEPSEA website is www.eepsea.org
(Lyncen M. Fernandez; UPV-IPO with sources from Dr. Rodelio Subade)