GMA declares oil spill 'effectively contained'; restoration plan up
President Arroyo declared on Wednesday that the oil spill in Guimaras has already been 'effectively contained,' but that efforts at cleaning the shoreline shall continue.
She also renewed her call to hold liable those responsible for the country's worst oil spill, and ordered the Justice department to build an 'airtight case.'
"The disaster has been effectively contained. But as we speak, the effective handling of the Solar 1 oil spill shall be sustained," the President said before starting the luncheon meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council in Nueva Valencia town in Guimaras Wednesday noon, two weeks after declaring it a 'national calamity.' "(The) clean up shall continue and will be intensified as we bring into the folds of justice the responsible parties of the spill and the rehabilitation effort is being fasttracked."
Arroyo also ordered Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez to "ensure an airtight case against those found liable for violations of law."
"No one culpable for this national tragedy shall walk away scot-free," she stressed, assuring that there will be "no whitewash in ferreting out the truth behind the accident" and that "justice will be served."
She also vowed that the government will revive Guimaras.
"Task Force Guimaras is making and shall announce concrete plan for the future of the affected communities, which will more than restore Guimaras to its former glory," she expressed.
The Task Force, she explained, will work with the Department of Tourism in mapping out plans for the "full revival and transformation of Guimaras from an oil spill site to one of the major tourist spots in the country."
At the same time Defense secretary Avelino Cruz, also the concurrent head of the Task Force Guimaras, revealed that the NDCC is considering siphoning off the remaining oil in the sunken Solar 1, instead of refloating the sunken tanker, following the recommendation of experts on what to do with the ship.
"Once it has been sucked out, you would see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Wednesday's visit to Guimaras was the President's third since the vessel sunk in August 11, carrying with it two million liters of industrial oil. About 200,000 to 250,000 liters have so far seeped out into the sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Arroyo strolled for a while in the white sand beach of Raymen Beach Resort before presiding over the meeting.
"It will take more than an oil spill to sink this island," she said. "Together, we will wipe away the smudge to bring back the smile on the face of the people of Guimaras. Together we will work to see to it that this accident will not tar the reputation or the future of Guimaras."
Cruz said that the $310 million International Oil Pollution Compensation fund is more than enough to restore Guimaras to its former beauty.
"It's future will be as bright as the beaches," Ms. Arroyo said.
She also announced her signing of an executive order creating the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Development Council that will map out development plans.
At the same time, she also asked Petron Corporation and government agencies tasked with the shoreline clean up to double the number of personnel and materials committed "in the effort to keep the oil from reaching beachhead." College students and Reserve Officers Training Course cadets have been ordered to help in cleaning the affected shoreline communities.