Experts discover more abnormalities in mangroves
Scientists have discovered more abnormalities in mangroves contaminated by the oil spill in Guimaras which point to the continued effects of the disaster.
Dr. Resurreccion Sadaba, program manager of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) Oil Spill Response Program, said recent samplings on mangroves showed “albinism” among trees.
This is characterized by the pale color of mangroves saplings instead of its normal green appearance.
“This can be attributed to the effects of the oil contamination,” Sadaba said in a briefing on Wednesday attended by Sen. Pia Cayetano.
Cayetano was chair of the Senate committee on environment when the oil spill occurred on August 11, 2006 after the M/T Solar 1 chartered by Petron Corp. sank in stormy seas southeast off Guimaras and spilled more than 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel oil it was transporting from Bataan to Zamboanga.
Sadaba said the samples afflicted with albinism were taken during field studies on January 16 to 19 at the 1,143-hectare Taklong Island National Marine Reserve (Tinmar) in Nueva Valencia town, the hardest hit by the oil spill among the island-province's five municipalities.
He said the growth of these mangrove trees are expected to be stunted because of the abnormalities.
Earlier studies conducted among mangroves, which were among the most affected marine resources by the oil sludge, showed continued defoliation and reduction of leaf size and canopy cover.
“The recent findings supports our earlier conclusions that damage to marine resources continue to persist despite signs of recovery,” said Sadaba in an interview.
Scientific studies have also shown abnormalities in breeding and growth of mangroves, sea grass, marine animals and sea cucumbers which were attributed mainly to the contamination of the marine environment by bunker fuel from the sunken vessel
But he said more and continued studies needed to be conducted because the effects are still being manifested nearly three years after the oil spill.
Cayetano said more scientific studies should also be conducted on the situation of the residents who were affected by the oil spill and the impact of rehabilitation programs.
Provincial board member Josephine de la Cruz said in the briefing that the a significant amount of funds alloted for Guimaras have not been released to the province.
The non-government organization Save Our Seas Panay-Guimaras said the livelihood of residents
affected by the oil spill have not fully recovered because of decrease fish catch.