Where's the Guimaras 'fish festival'
The Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Club, insurer of the ill-fated MT Solar I, is reportedly waiting for the holding of the "fish festival" in Guimaras which is aimed at helping the fisherfolks affected by the country's worst oil spill.
P&I Club allegedly gave funds to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) last year for the holding of the "fish festival" but no such activity was held.
Joe Nichols, Deputy Director/Technical Advisor of the Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF) said he was told by the P&I Club that they have already given the "budget" to BFAR last year for the proposed "fish festival" and yet until now nothing has been heard about it.
Nichols, however, refused to give details on how much money the P&I had given to BFAR as its budget for the "festival". He said the amount was enough to hold a "festival" and promote the sea produce of the island. IOPCF and P&I Club officials, both wanted the people to once again buy fish and other fishery products coming from Guimaras and eventually restore the confidence of the buying public in Guimaras sea produce. IOPCF and P&I Club officials where in the island last year.
M/T Solar I sank off Guimaras waters last August 11, 2006 and spilled tons of industrial fuel oil. The oil spill in Guimaras is the worst oil spill recorded in the country. The spill affected the lives of the thousands of residents particularly the fishers, pond and resort owners.
Nichols said none was heard from the bureau since the budget was released for the festival. They wanted the bureau to immediately schedule the festival to help the Guimarasnons.
The fish and other fishery products taken from the waters of Guimaras have long been declared safe for consumption, said Nichols.
Meanwhile, BFAR Director Drusila Esther Ong was not available for comment. She was out of her office when reached for interview regarding the fish festival.