A look into the many calamities in the oil spill calamity
Oceanographer Rex Baleña of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) - Miag-ao had his worst fears confirmed when faced with the news of the Guimaras oil spill exactly a month ago today.
One of the three "ocean scientists" in the Philippines and the only one outside Luzon, Professor Baleña was the man and brains behind the March 1995 study that put specifics and a face on coastal oceanic environment.
The coastal ocean, he then said, deserves "serious attention at the least by virtue of its being a unique environment." Here he also pointed out how the Philippines being a typical maritime country stand to possibly have the most extensive coastline in the world. Alongside such, Professor Baleña noted the significance of said study as a perfect opportunity to "advertise the practical significance of the coastal ocean by discussing the problems of this country."
He then spoke in passing about these problems then blamed on lack of effective regulation as in the case of factories close to the coastlines. Yet in general, it was this same Professor who so stated, "widespread malpractices including those of the shipping industry, agriculture and mar/aquaculture involve the discharge of pollutants to coastal waters."
When news broke out on the spread of the oil spill in Guimaras and the enormity of the devastation it presents to the populace, Professor Baleña was among the experts called in.
His message was direct and simple -- the submerged tanker with over 2 million liters of bunker fuel in it has to be contained. The underlying statement was grimmer -- the submerged tanker is like a ticking time bomb and not just your ordinary bomb but one with a potential effect of a "nuclear proportion."
Failure to contain it poses the gravest in harm to the ecology and life of countless Filipinos and in just a matter of time, even up to Borneo .
Containment and clean-up efforts were to be the two most important focus and targets set on the men and women behind the "oil spill community."
Barangay, municipal and provincial officials of Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros were to work hand in hand with nearby provinces and after about ten days, the solid help of the national government.
Exactly a month ago to the dreaded spill with billions in government funding and millions more in relief assistance from private groups poured in and promised, the calamity in Guimaras has given birth to yet bigger calamities.
Local headlines and news stories told of power play from opposing camps of Guimaras' top politicians and leaders. Of late, The News Today (TNT) learned of a clear directive coming from the Office of the Governor Rahman Nava that orders all relief efforts and assistance to be properly coursed thru his office.
The bigger calamity has hit the island-province already beset with enormous unfinished oil spill work in news reports that similarly told of complaints from locals identified with the Governor and supporters of lone District Congressman Edgar Espinosa. Even the prominent presence of former Guimaras Governor and Congresswoman Emily Relucio-Lopez was subject of talks and confusion. She came bearing with the good news on help realized thru her contacts with the international community. TNT gathered reactions from locals that treated and dismissed such as her stage for a supposed Lopez-comeback.
Radio and television news had similar stories of conflict within the barangays hardest hit by the oil spill. A family was torn apart by a hacking incident in Nueva Valencia as GMA TV 6 Ratsada News reported of a confrontation turned near deadly courtesy of supposed favoritism in the cash-for-work program implemented here.
Bombo Radyo for days had various news items of various complaints on the supposed mishandling of relief goods distribution.
One woman physician who facilitated the donation of over 50 boots, hundreds of masks and gloves wants answers to where such went. An Iloilo City-based organization wants answers as to why they cannot coordinate in both Office of the Governor and Office of the Congressman and why it has only to be in either one.
A group of young hopefuls in government could only shake their heads in the warning issued by Fifth District Congressman Rolex Suplico to what the solon termed were "human vultures in Guimaras." Perhaps Congress' Oversight Committee for the P2 Billion Oil Spill Fund will make the difference.
Or perhaps Petron Corporation who owned the bunker fuel and chartered the ill-fated M/T Solar 1 made the biggest mistake when it categorically said "at all costs we will help rebuild Guimaras." Perhaps it promised too much too soon being the "friend on the road" with total customer satisfaction and the promise in partnering relationships.
Poor rich Petron. Poor poorer people in Guimaras.
Meantime, a class suit is underway. Indeed, poor rich Petron to be in the center of the storm in Guimaras.