As a result of this and other similar articles, Philippine National Oil Corporation created and implemented a sustained rehabilitation program for the affected areas.
The Never Ending Story
Over a hundred square kilometers of marine sanctuary and rich fishing
grounds are threatened by yet another oil spill off Guimaras, the
second so far this year.
International Maritime Law requires that environmentally dangerous
cargo, such as fuel oils, be transported only in double hulled ships to
minimize tragedies such as these.
Petron was quick to point out that as cargo owner, they have no
liability. This, of course, did not sit well with the Justice
Department, which points out that Petron also selected the shipping
company, knowing full well that the ships transporting their cargo had
single hulls.
We take such irresponsible liberties with our environment, and so soon
after the President had declared the area of the spill as the tourism
hub of the country.
Millions are being spent today to clean up this mess. But the effects
of this disastrous oil spill go far beyond today's news.
Oil spills go far beyond the immediate effects of the visible oil. The
seas off Guimaras will produce less fish for the next twenty years.
Hectares of lush coral remain covered in sludge.
And those local hires, working with little protective gear for P150/day
have just acquired a lifetime of potential health problems in the
bargain.
But, it will all be forgotten by then.
The fishermen and the local laborers are little people. Their lives
have forever been affected by this tragedy, but once the headlines are
gone, they will be forgotten.
When the Exxon Valdez spilled ten million gallons of oil in 1989, the
clean up took over ten years, and the legal claims continue seventeen
years later, centered around punitive damages of $5Bln, or Exxon's
single year profit in 1989.
This is aside from the $2Bln Exxon already claims to have spent in the
clean-up and $1Bln paid out to various civil claimants, mainly
businesses damaged by the viscous oil.
Are these enough? Not according to some experts. The damage to the
environment and local businesses has run into tens of billions of
dollars, and seventeen years later, there is still much work to be
done.
None of these can be handled by a quick fix solution.
Mopping up the oil is an immediate concern, but longer term approaches
to repair the local environment and provide support to the displaced
local economy are essential. Corals and affected businesses do not
miraculously re-grow when the visible oil is gone.
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/ created by the State of Alaska handles the long term management of the oil spill's damage to the environment and the rich fishing grounds off
Alaska.
