Was There Ever a Question?

Was there ever a question, who was at fault? Government probers found shipping firm Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. (SDMC), Captain Norberto Aguro, Petron Corp., and maritime officials liable for the sinking of the ill-fated MT Solar I. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), after scrutinizing the report of the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI), announced Thursday that Petron was "liable of overloading" industrial fuel at its port in Limay, Bataan. Overloading caused "instability" to the MT Solar I and "render[ed] it unseaworthy for the voyage," the report said.

The MT Solar I was carrying some 2.2 million liters of bunker fuel when it sank off Guimaras Island in central Philippines on August 11. Some 200,000 to 300,000 liters of oil had been spilled into the sea, devastating the coastal villages in at least three provinces. However, evidence of a continued oil leak was observed during the recent weeks. Captain Norberto Aguro, skipper of the ill-fated tanker, was found "administratively liable of disabling lack of adequate training for oil tankers." The report also said Aguro failed to "exercise due dilligence in making the vessel seaworthy." Sunshine Maritime, meanwhile, was deemed "administratively liable for completely disregarding all mandated regulations" for the seaworthiness of vessels.

The investigators left it to the Department of Justice to determine the civil and criminal liability of the Petron, Sunshine Maritime and Aguro. DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza directed the Marina to file charges against the three parties. The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard, meanwhile, supposedly "committed lapses" in performing its mandated functions.

The investigators left it to the Department of Justice to determine the civil and criminal liability of the Petron, Sunshine Maritime and Aguro. Mendoza also directed the Marina to file charges against the three parties. The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard, meanwhile, supposedly "committed lapses" in performing its mandated functions.

Why M/T Solar 1 sank

The sinking of the MT Solar I was attributed to three key factors: (1) loss of residual stability or overloading, (2) loss of reserved buoyancy due to bad weather, and (3) the captain's "incomptence."

1. Overloading caused "instability" to the MT Solar I and "render[ed] it unseaworthy for the voyage," said DOTC Sec. Leandro Mendoza, who read the report findings. The MT Solar I was carrying some 2.2 million liters of bunker fuel when it sank off the Guimaras Island in central Philippines last August 11. The board, chaired by Rear Admiral Danilo Abinoja of the Coast Guard, reported that the sea vessel was overloaded by approximatedly 150 tons.

2. MT Solar I was also unable to properly stay afloat because its loadline, or the markings which show its safe buoyancy level, was "adjusted" from 1,220 mm to 700 mm. When the vessel sailed into rough seas during its final voyage, the forward compartments and top deck was flooded with seawater by an aggregate volume of 275 tons. "Bad weather and prevailing Southwest Monsoon and the probable flooding" of two ballast tanks was enough to force the vessel to turn "upside down," the report read.

3. Despite his best efforts to convince the panel, Aguro was found "lack[ing] of adequate training, a disabling error of judgement and a disabling lack of knowledge." Aguro, who had been seafaring for the past 25 years, had insisted that his chemical tanker operations license was secured before the government put up requirements for oil tanker operations. However, the Marina noted during one hearing that Aguro's licence with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was already expired as of 2002. Captain Norberto Aguro, skipper of the ill-fated tanker, was found "administratively liable of disabling lack of adequate training for oil tankers." The report also said Aguro failed to "exercise due dilligence in making the vessel seaworthy." Sunshine Maritime, meanwhile, was deemed "administratively liable of completely disregarding all mandated regulations" for the seaworthiness of its vessels.

As for the culpability of the Coast Guard and the Marina, Mendoza is expected to issue an order within the coming days calling for the formation of a new panel to determine the agencies' shortcomings. Abinoja said the new body will "look at the lapse within institution" of the maritime authorities. The panel will be headed by Cecilio Penilla, DOTC undersecretary for transport security. Abinoja said it will be given 30 days to complete its investigation.

BMI member Commodore Benjamin Mata told GMANews.TV that, "the report shows the independence of special Board of Marine Inquiry because the members were able to see the lapses of the Marina and the Coast Guard desptie the fact that our chairman is the deputy commandant of the Coast Guard and our vice chairman (Primo Rivera) is from the Marina."

Oil Smuggling?

The SBMI started its inquiry on August 29 and invited 19 resource persons from the MT Solar Icrew, Sunshine Maritime, ship inspection firms, Petron, a life raft supplier and the Marina. During the hearings, some BMI members noted that a hole on the side of the MT Solar I may have been punctured by another boat, raising suspicions that Sunshine Maritime was involved in oil smuggling. However, the conduct of such a crime was not among the findings released Thursday. Still, the BMI said it would ask the National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter. GMANews.tv, Thursday, September 14, 2006

Guimaras Oil Spill Blogs

There are multiple BLOG sites that have, and continue to appear, all contributing to the worldwide awareness for what has happened and what needs to happen, in order to restore Guimaras. Here are the links to those BLOGs.

Project Sunrise a colaborative inititive between the Canadian Urban Institute, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Provicincial Government of Guimaras, Gov. JC Rahman Nava

Guimaras Oil Spill: News and Views on the Environmental Catastrophe developed by veteran business journalist and lifestyle columnist Stella Arnaldo.

Oil Spill an Environmental Tragedy GMA TV's Petron Oil Spill Reports on gmanews.tv

Ligtas Guimaras developed by Petron Corp.

Greenpeace developed this photo journal of the disaster.

Blue Screen Oil Spill Photographs by photographer Leo Solinap

Save Guimaras described as a 'youth action oriented group which aims to raise awareness on the recent oil-spill tragedy in Guimaras, Philippines and encourage grassroots participation by using available online tools.

Save Guimaras developed by Spain based freelance writer Tuesday Gutierrez

Salvage Operation Update

This link takes you to the presentation made by the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund and the Protection and Indemnity Club to the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council, Tuesday, September 12, 2006, based on the report (and photographs) by Fukada Marine and Salvage Works' vessel the Shinsei Maru.

M/T SOLAR 1 - What do we know?

1. 2.4 million liters bunker fuel on board when M/T Solar 1 sank. Petron reports that the loaded volume was 2,193,000 liters while the cargo tank capacity of the vessel was 2,228,000 liters or 98%. In terms of weight, the cargo was 2,064 metric tons versus the dead weight tonnage of 2,128 metric tons or 97%.

2. Bureau Veritas, International Inspection Group (France)
3. Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. owner 998-ton ship, launched in 1988
4. Philippine Trigon Shipyard, Cebu dry-dock, Glenn Dela Torre, owner
5. International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)
6. Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI)

7. The (BMI) believes the triangular hole and dents on the side of Solar I, as seen in the video taken by Shinsei Maru, were caused by a barge which came alongside the vessel. They raised the possibility of oil smuggling and the product was being siphoned from Solar I to a barge through a submersible pump.

8. The (BMI) has determined that the crew of the ill-fated tanker M/T Solar I had violated safety procedures when they failed to turn on signaling equipment that automatically send distress signals. Solar I radioman Herminio Regil told the board that their Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SART) were turned off.

9. 18 surviving crewmen survived, two crewmen remain missing and presumed dead.
10. Petron Corp. chartered the vessel to ferry bunker oil from their port in Bataan to Zamboanga City.

11. The (BMI) has determined that Tanker Captain Norberto Aguro allowed two cargo surveyors of Petron to go onboard without presenting a seaman’s book. Captain Aguro also declared only 16 crewmen onboard, when in fact 20 persons were on board the vessel. The (BMI) also found that four of the persons listed as crewmembers were actually not onboard and instead, other individuals took their place.

12. The (BMI) has determined that the tanker sailed with several hatches open, as seen in the video taken by a remotely-operated vehicle of the Japanese survey ship
Shinsei Maru.

13. The vessel sank to the ocean floor in an "upright position," estimated to be at a depth of 640 meters.

14. Operators from the Japanese ship, Shinsei Maru, remotely operated vehicle (ROV), stated that "a look of the 10 compartments showed the gaskets already sustained some damage." "Compartment 4 was already open, and it was likely the oil that leaked out came from it." Capt. Luis Tuason, District Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for Western Visayas, reported that tank no. 2 on the ship's portside or left side of the ship, was apparently damaged and oil continues to leak from it. Each compartment has a capacity of about 275,000 liters of oil but it was not yet clear how much oil has leaked out.

15. The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has determined that radio operator Herminio Reugel, pumpman Jessie Angeling and one of the three tanker oilers did not have valid General Tanker Familiarization Certificates.

16. The (Marina) determined that Tanker Captain Norberto Agoro did not have Advanced Training on Oil Tanker Operations, "which is required for the Master on board oil tanker." "Thus [Aguro's] COC (Certificate of Competency) limits him to serve on board chemical tankers only."

17. Tanker Captain Norberto Aguro has admitted to having been previously "banned" at the Petron Bataan Refinery in Limay, Bataan, where the MT Solar 1 loaded some two million liters of industrial fuel. Aguro said authorities in the petroleum facility had been irked after he had ignored procedures to have a tugboat pull a tanker, which he piloted, into the dock. He wanted to bring tankers in by himself, which was a less costly move that could be accomplished with his expertise. In his place, Aguro allowed Captain Victoriano Beronia, his auxillary master, to bring the MT Solar 1 into the pier on August 9.

18. The (Marina) determined that Tanker Captain Noberto Aguro violated safety procedures by failing to divert the MT Solar 1 from the Guimaras Strait on the eastern side of Panay Island when it was first tossed by rough waves on August 10, (a day before the sinking). The southwest monsoon was blowing strongly that time, when the MT Solar 1 was passing Dumali Point between Marinduque and Mindoro. Captain Aguro should have ordered his crew to take the western route around Panay Island where the seas would be calmer.







Petron Corp's Solar1 Oil Spill at Guimaras Island

Petron Corp... Did You know?

A publicly listed company, the Philippine government owns 40 percent of Petron. Another 40 percent is owned by Saudi Aramco, and the balance of 20 percent, by public shareholders.

Shareholders: (Top 10)
Philippine National Oil Company 40%
Aramco Overseas Company B.V. 40%
PCD Nominee Corp.(Foreign) 6.42%
PCD Nominee Corp. (Filipino) 5.39%
Home Development Mutual Fund 0.20%
Ansaldo, Godinez & Co. Inc. FAO Mark V. Pangilinan 0.09%
Siao Tick Chong 0.08%
Ernesto Chu Chiaco & Margaret Sy Chua Chiaco 0.06%
Marciano V. Pangilinan 0.05%
Aristeo Lascano Castillo 0.04%

A mixed group of government and Aramco representatives compose the board of directors of Petron, which remains a market leader with 40 percent control of the retail petroleum market.

Board of Directors
Nicasio I. Alcantara, Chairman
Khalid D. Al-Faddagh,
Basil A. Abul-Hamayel
Herminio S. Aquino
Alberto A. Pedrosa
Khalid G. Al-Buainain
Bernardo R. Abes
Douhan H. Al-Douha
Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter

Executive Officers
Sulaiman M. Ababtain, Officer-in-Charge & V.P - Corporate Planning
Jose K. Campos, Jr., Vice President for Marketing
Antonio G. Pelayo, Vice President for Finance & Subsidiaries
Felimon E. Antiporta, Officer-in-Charge for Supply and Operations
Alfred A. Trio, Vice President for Refinery Division
Jose Jesus G. Laurel, General Counsel and V.P.- Legal & External Affairs
Ma. Concepcion F. de Claro, Accounting Manager
Rosario R. Eijansantos, Manager of Treasurer's Department
Luis A. Maglaya, Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Petron Corp. Subsidiaries
1. New ventures Realty Corp. (NVRC)
2. Petrogen Insurance Corp.
3. Overseas Insurance Corporation (OVINCOR)
4. Petron Foundation, Inc. (PFI)
5. Petron Freeport Corp.
6. Petron Marketing Corporation (PMO)

Petron Corporation
39/F Petron MegaPlaza
358 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue
Makati City
Tel. No. +63 2 886-3888
Fax No. +63 2 886-3064

Petron Corp. said (Wednesday, August 23, 2006) it has no obligation to cover the cost of cleaning up the massive oil spill off Guimaras Island in central Philippines, nor even to extend economic aid to the communities devastated by the tragedy. "Petron is not under any legal or contractual obligation to set aside P10 billion in economic aid or to post a P100-million bond to pay for cleanup as under pertinent Philippine Coast Guard circulars, it is the spiller who is primarily responsible for conducting cleanup operations with the supervision of the Coast Guard," the oil firm said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). "Petron, as mere cargo owner, did not cause the spill and had no part whatsoever in the operation of the vessel. GMA News

The Insurance Companies - Who is Going to Pay?

Stronghold Insurance Company, Inc (SICI)
Security Bank Center,17th Floor
6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati City
Telephone 63-2-891 1329-37
www.strongholdinsurance.com.ph

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David C. Mercado, Chairman and SICI President
Amiel M. Mercado, Director and SICI Sr. Vice President
Rodolfo E. Mendoza, Director and SICI Sr. Vice President & Corporate Secretary
Romulo I. Delos Reyes, Jr., Director and SICI Executive Vice President & General Manager
Jose M. Sakdalan, Director and SICI Vice President
Corazon M. Fermin, Directo and SICI Sr. Vice Presiddent & Treasurer
Cornelio T. Rivera, Director

SICI cancelled the hull and machineries insurance policy of Solar 1 after the tanker's owners, Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. (SMDC), failed to settle the premium. SICI executive vice-president Romulo de los Reyes said SMDC took a hull and machineries policy worth P20 million for the Solar 1 last February. He added that SMDC failed to settle its premium worth P211,990. "We have to have payment for the policy so it will be in effect," he sa

Shipowners’ Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association Luxenbourg
99 Grand-Rue
L-1661 Luxenbourg

Manager - F.W. F. Tombs
The Shipowner's Protection Limited
St. Clare House
30-33 Minories
London EC3N 1BP
Telephone 44 (0) 20 7488-0911
Fax 44 (0) 20 7480-5806
www.shipownersclub.com
www.sopfast.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
R.D.M. Lenthall, Chairman, London
D.A. MacLeod, Vice-Chairman, Halifax, Nova Scotia
A.D.W. Allan, Edinburgh
C.A. Askins, Cape Town
M.C. Barraclough, London
A.H. Briggs, Cairns QLD
W.D Everard, London
R. Frising, Luxenbourg
Dr. D.C.S. Ho, Hong Kong
D.C.M. Jamieson, London
G.T. Kailis, Perth WA
J. Mudde, Rotterdam
Ong Kok Wah, Singapore
P.D.T. Roberts, London
Mme C. Rosso, Marseille
C.L. Van Meerbeeck, Antwerp

An insurance claim worth $301 million could also be rejected after SMDC violated one of the insurance company's rules on exclusions. The rule states that "there shall be no right of recovery of any claim from the Association if it arises out of willful misconduct on the part of the insured."

Insurance for Solar 1 Hits Snag

Owners of the M/T Solar 1 oil tanker could face problems in paying off claimants of the Guimaras oil spill due to possible rejection of their insurance claims, TV Patrol World reported Wednesday. Stronghold Insurance Company Inc. (SICI) cancelled the hull and machineries insurance policy of Solar 1 after the tanker's owners, Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. (SMDC), failed to settle the premium. Another insurance firm based in Luxembourg could also refuse insurance worth $300 million after the ship's owners allowed an unlicensed captain to man the vessel.

SICI executive vice-president Romulo de los Reyes said SMDC took a hull and machineries policy worth P20 million for the Solar 1 last February. He added that SMDC failed to settle its premium worth P211,990. "We have to have payment for the policy so it will be in effect," he said, adding that SICI had already informed the Insurance Commission about the rejection of the claim. SMDC president Clemente Cancio said the company will file charges against the insurance firm. "We used to be late in paying the premium but it was never a problem until now," he said.

Another insurance claim worth $301 million at the Shipowners’ Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association in Luxembourg could also be rejected after SMDC violated one of the insurance company's rules on exclusions. The rule states that "there shall be no right of recovery of any claim from the Association if it arises out of willful misconduct on the part of the insured."

SMDC earlier admitted before a Special Marine Board of Inquiry that it allowed Captain Norberto Aguro to man the Solar 1 despite failing to renew his license. SMDC, however, rejected the report, saying that the insurance company had already sent representatives to Guimaras to assess the possible amount of damages.

President Arroyo on Wednesday ordered the Department of Justice to build an "air-tight" case against the captain of the sunken M/T Solar 1 and officials of Petron Corp. and SMDC. "No one culpable in this national tragedy shall walk away scot-free," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a statement. He said that the filing of cases against people allegedly responsible for the oil spill should be a reminder to oil companies and firms engaged in oil and chemical transport to cooperate with government agencies and institutions about their operations.

ABS-CBN Interactive News

An Appeal For Help - Gov. JC Rahman Nara

When Guimaras became a province in 1992, it was called “The Island to Watch” because of so much promises that its resources bring. Aside from mango, its signature crop, it has long stretches of white-sand beaches, remarkable dive spots and rich fishing grounds. These resources brought the best out of Guimaras, and took it out of the list of 20 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

However, fate turned cruel when disaster struck. On 11 August 2006, the tanker MT Solar 1 chartered by Petron Corp. to deliver at least two million liters of bunker fuel to Zamboanga, sank off our southern coast while battling rough waters. Several hours later, our long stretches of white-sand beaches, remarkable dive spots and rich fishing grounds became despicable sights with black, thick oil covering them. It's an 811 Tragedy for us!

Guimaras remained “The Island to Watch” but this time, it is a death watch. The sinking of the tanker gave a blow of death to us, hitting us where it hurts most. Yet, as we now gasp for air to survive the catastrophe, the source of the blow is just an arm-stretch away, delivering punches bit by bit until who knows when.

We are appealing for help to:

Immediately remove the tanker . All those who have so far responded to help us admit that they don’t have the capability to remove the tanker below. As long as it stays there, all efforts to clean our shores will be meaningless, and more and more coastal communities will suffer from hunger, thirst and diseases as the area covered by the slick expands. To those who have the facilities to dive and recover sunken vessels 600-700 meters underwater, you are our only hope.

Provide relief assistance. As of 20 August 2006, at least 4,000 coastal families have been directly affected by the spill. They are now experiencing food and water shortage because their livelihood have been crippled by the oil spill and groundwater have been rendered unsafe for drinking. Medicines, particularly for skin rashes and upper respiratory tract infections, are also needed by affected families. Provincial and municipal government funds are now running out.

Rebuild our lives. We need projects to assist our people restore their livelihoods. Two of our main economic drivers – tourism and fishery – have been rendered inutile. The environment that sustains us had been badly damaged. We hope that those who want to help will coordinate with Project Sunrise to ensure that efforts are coordinated and relevant, and minimize wastage of precious resources. Project Sunrise aims to improve the relief work by bringing together the resources, information, human resources and technology to be used in the relief operations in a transparent and accountable manner.

We have created this website to bring together compassionate and thoughtful citizens and organizations of the world and take common heroic responses to human sufferings caused by this disaster. We hope to receive your financial, technical expertise and talents needed in mitigating the risks brought by this disaster.

Together, we can work in restoring the environmental and economic future and solidarity of the Guimaras communities and neighbors.

JC Rahman Nava, M.D.,Governor, Province of Guimaras

31 Days of Agony

GUIMARAS – A month had passed since a Petron-chartered vessel carrying 2.1 million liters of oil sank in the Guimaras Strait, but MT Solar 1 remains at the bottom of the strait and could spill more bunker fuel.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, about 350,000 liters of oil have spilled from the tanker since August 11. The remaining 1.8 million liters is an ecological time bomb that will cause long-term and possible irreversible damage to the environment and to the livelihoods of people, ecological watchdog Greenpeace warned.

While about 40,000 people in Guimaras and Iloilo provinces have been dislocated by the oil spill, the Japanese team that surveyed Solar 1 has yet to release its recommendation – either to entomb the tanker, siphon the remaining bunker oil from it, or re-float it.

The survey team is expected to release its recommendations sometime this week yet, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

Meanwhile, fishermen in affected communities especially in Guimaras are facing a desperate and uncertain future. The oil spill has wreaked unimaginable havoc to the pristine marine resources of Guimaras, and to the livelihood and survival prospects of its people.

The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) reported that 234.84 kilometers of coastline have been affected as of September 8, 15.8 square kilometers of coral reefs, 479.08 hectares of mangroves and 58 hectares of seaweeds.

The RDCC also recorded 1,070 persons with oil spill-related diseases/symptoms. Guimaras has the most number of sick persons – 999. The island province also has recorded two deaths as confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared on September 6 that the oil spill had been “contained”. Petron seconded her, saying that the “worst is over.” But not everybody bought their statements.

The worst may yet happen if the remaining containers of the tanker holding the remaining 1.8 million liters of bunker fuel will break open due to strong water pressure, warned Gerry Ledesma of the Negros Forest and Marine Conservation Foundation.

Ledesma said strong westerly winds bring strong sea current. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) agrees.

PAGASA officer-in-charge Dr. Prisco Nilo also said the oil spill cleanup must be fast tracked before the wind pattern reverses in November; he said the reversal could possibly “transport” the oil spill in the vicinity of the Visayas.

He added that from the current wind pattern from southwest to the northeast, the wind pattern will completely reverse, resulting to the transport of the spilled oil towards Mindanao and Southern Visayas area this November up to around February or early March.

The RDCC had identified 38 threatened municipalities – one in Guimaras, 16 in Iloilo and 21 in Negros Occidental. These are:

• Guimaras – Jordan

• Iloilo -- Miag-ao, Guimbal, Tigbauan, Oton, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Estancia, Carles (including Sicogon Island, Calagnaan Island, Binulwangan Island and Naburut Island), Concepcion (including Tagubahan Island, Igbon Island, Malangaban Island and Pan De Azucar Island) and Iloilo City (Villa in Arevalo and in Molo Districts); and

• Negros Occidental -- Himamaylan, Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Pontevedra, San Enrique, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Bago City, Talisay City, Silay City, E.B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Escalante City, Ilog, Cauayan, Sipalay City, Hinobaan and Bacolod City.

Petron said it would continue to finance the cleanup and rehabilitation of the areas contaminated by the oil spill. Virginia Ruivivar, Petron’s public affairs manager, said in a weekly forum in Quezon City on Saturday that the company would fund the rehabilitation of the hundreds of oil-contaminated coastline in Guimaras and the hundreds of hectares of mangroves, as well as provide financial support to about 400 fisherfolk who have lost their livelihood.

Solar 1 owner Sunshine Maritime is claiming $6.7 million in insurance from the Shipping Owners of Luxembourg. The money would be used to pay for pollution damage, compensation for stricken communities, tourism loss and deaths resulting in the spill. Ruivivar said that if the fund would not be enough, Petron has a $315-million insurance claim with the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund that it could tap.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said, "The department has propositioned standby resources at its field office in Iloilo City: P2 million for cash-for-work projects, P2.5-million stockpile of relief commodities and P1.2-million worth of relief goods from Mirant Philippine Foundation." Cabral said the United Nations is providing protective gear for the cleanup and will come up with an assessment program from the spillage. The UN has given the country access to $16-million, or P800-million, support fund for the oil spill.

Ruivivar said there are three phases in the rehabilitation program where the affected families could earn as much as P300 a day: the coastal cleanup, mangrove cleanup and mangrove replacement.

In the ongoing coastal clean­up, about 1,600 residents were already involved, Cabral said. Two members of each family spend four hours each, or eight hours per family per day. They receive the money in the afternoon. Figures from the department showed that as of September 8, Petron has spent P5.52 million as payment to the families hired as cleanup crews in the 29 affected barangays in the municipalities of Nueva Valencia, Sam Lorenzo, Sibunag and Jordan. The department, on the other hand, has provided relief augmentation assistance worth P1.4 million to the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council for rice, assorted canned goods and family packs, Cabral said. Cabral added that her department would also release an augmentation support of 3,333 sacks of rice worth P1.7 million to Guimaras.

Panay News, Sunday, September 10, 2006

Change in Wind Patterns to Worsen Oil Spill

ILOILO – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said there is a need to fast track the MT Solar 1 oil spill cleanup before a typhoon affects Visayas in the coming weeks or before the wind pattern reverses in November.

PAGASA officer-in-charge Dr. Prisco Nilo said that the entry of a typhoon that could affect Guimaras would accelerate the transport of oil spill to the north. Nilo also said that if a typhoon would directly pass the site of the oil spill, the ocean current will cause the oil to spill in different directions. Nilo said the oil spill cleanup must be fast tracked before the wind pattern reverses in November which could possibly “transport” the oil spill in the vicinity of the Visayas.

He added that from the current wind pattern from southwest to the northeast, the wind pattern will completely reverse, resulting to the transport of the spilled oil towards Mindanao and Southern Visayas area this November up to around February or early March.

Panay News, Sunday, September 10, 2006

Petron's Insurer Begins Compensation Process in Guimaras

Petron Corporation said (Thursday, September 7, 2006) that the representatives of the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund, its insurer for oil spill incidents, are conducting oil pollution claims and compensation workshops in Guimaras. These workshops are aimed at facilitating the claims-making process for the victims of the incident.

Sunshine Maritime’s insurer, the Protection and Indemnity Club (P&I), will cover the first tier of insurance (maximum amount $6.7 million). This includes pollution liability, damage to fixed and floating objects and to other properties, and wreck removal among others. Beyond that IOPC will extend compensation (maximum amount of $315 million) for “pollution damage” which covers clean-up costs, property damage,
consequential and economic loss.

“In line with our commitment to bring relief to the people of Guimaras as soon as possible, we have urged IOPC to immediately process the claims made by the victims of the Solar 1 incident,” Chairman and CEO Nicasio I. Alcantara said. “IOPC and P&I representatives have already met with affected communities including fishermen and those engaged in the tourism industry.”

The IOPC 1992 Fund was established as a result of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (1992 CLC). The Philippines became a member in 1999. Petron has paid out about P120 million to the Fund since that time.

Petron added that it was doing everything possible to speed up onshore clean-up operations in affected areas. Under its Ligtas Guimaras program, the company is employing about 1,500 people daily under a “Cash for Work” scheme in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). As of September 6, nearly 125 kilometers on shoreline has been cleaned and 1,300 metric tons of debris has been collected. The company has also been providing family relief packs for affected families. Petron has completed the distribution of the family packs to all the affected families and has begun a new round of distribution. There will also be another medical mission tomorrow and Saturday. Last week, Petron conducted a mission in Barangay Cabalagnan wherein hundreds of Guimaranons were given medical assistance.

“We wish to assure the people of Guimaras that we will do whatever it takes to restore the island to its former beauty.” Alcantara concluded.

Petron Corp.

Mangroves

DENR Sounds Alarm on Cutting of Oil-Soaked Mangroves in Guimaras
The regional Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sounded the alarm for the proper treatment of oil-smeared mangroves after “an unidentified clean up force” was seen cutting the roots and branches of mangroves in two villages of Nueva Valencia. The cutting of the mangrove roots and branches “is harmful to the mangrove trees because it will open to further infection and will affect salt balance that will ultimately cause the death of mangroves,” said Julian D. Amador, DENR regional executive director.

A DENR statement quoted the DENR Mangrove Survey Team that reported an unidentified clean up force cutting the prop roots of several mangrove species in the coastal villages of Lucmayan and Cabalagnan this week in heaviest hit Nueva Valencia town.

Petron Corp. that contracted MT Solar 1 to ferry 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel oil from its refinery in Bataan to Zamboanga has hired more than 1,000 residents who are paid P300 a day for clean up operations.

The prop roots contain the lenticels which are the breathing organs of the Bakauan (Rhizophora) species. The pneumatrophores , cylindrical root-like protrusions on the ground which are the breathing organs of the Avicennia species such as bungalon (Avicennia marina), api-api (Avicennia officinales) piapi (Avicennia lanata) and others, were also cut, said the DENR. “Mangrove branches covered with oil were also cut,” said the DENR statement.

Mangroves protect sea grass beds and coral reefs from sedimentation and the intricate prop roots of bakauan and the pneumatrophores (“breathing organs”) of bungalon and pagatpat help retard sedimentation that can suffocate the sea grass and corals, said Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia or PEMSEA. "Fish use the spaces under the mass of prop roots of mangrove trees as 'delivery rooms,' and the offspring of many marine species spend their growing period in the mangrove swamps before moving on to the open,” said the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD).

The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council said that bunker fuel oil from MT Solar 1 has destroyed or heavily damaged the environment and marine life including sea grass (12 hectares), corals (30 ha), coastline (220 km), coral reef (15.8 sq km), mangroves (431.5 ha), seaweeds (58 ha) and fishponds (823.5 ha).
Amador appealed to the Guimaras provincial government, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Petron Corp. to assist the DENR in disseminating measures in the clean up operations inside the mangrove areas.

The measures which the DENR outlined are the following:

(1) Clean up should only include the collection of debris coated with oil found floating within mangrove stands or stranded/accumulated waste materials along the shore. (2) Avoid the cutting of any parts of mangrove trees. (3) People cleaning the mangrove areas should be careful not to trample the mangroves’ roots system. (4) Remove blockage of debris or any other waste within mangrove stands to provide adequate tidal exchange. (5) The use of any kind of dispersants, bioremediation and implementation of other clean up measures should be cleared with DENR or local authorities. (6) Amador further said that should any group need supervision in the cleaning of mangrove areas, it may coordinate with DENR personnel so that the office will re-deploy technical personnel to provide the necessary technical assistance.

Mangroves are home to 68 species of fish including bangus or milkfish and mullet, 54 species of crustaceans (shrimps, prawns, and crabs), and 56 species of gastropods like snails, whelks, and slugs.

Panay News, by Hazel P. Villa

Bioreactors and Guimaras oil spill

Oil-Eating Microbes Eyed The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is eyeing the use of naturally occurring microbes that feed on oil to clean up the spill off Guimaras island. The process is called "bioremediation" which hastens the natural biodegradation of oil through use of oil-eating microbes. The microbes to be used are the pseudomonas azelaica, serratia marcescens, and xanthomonas maltophilia, collectively known as "Pristine Sea."

Microbes Can Help Rid Seas of Black Sludge The corporate arm of the DENR said it planned to ask Petron Corp., the oil refiner that chartered the MT Solar I that sank on Aug. 11 while carrying two million liters of bunker fuel oil, to purchase from the United States a bioreactor that can produce the Pristine Sea product brand of microbes at a rate of 100 million/ml. A medium-sized machine costs $500,000 or roughly P25.5 million, according to Natural Resources Development Corp. (NRDC). “We’re working very fast because we recognize the urgency of the problem … This is an investment in infrastructure … If we get this machine, we can address oil spills immediately,”.

Some Aspects of the Environmental Safety of Commercial Oil Spill Bioremediation Agents Protocols and test systems have been developed to evaluate the efficacy and environmental safety of Commercial Bioremediation Agents (CBAs) intended for application on oil spills. The environmental safety protocols were tested with CBAs composed of a variety of ingredients including: nutrients, microorganisms, surfactants, enzymes, or a combination of these.

Science-Based Interventions to the MT Solar 1 Oil Spill

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issues daily updates on the southwest monsoon surge and provides operational wave models that are being used to help estimate of the extent of the oil displaced.

To dissipate public fears and concerns about the oil spill, the science community responds by presenting solutions to the short and long-term damages caused by the tragedy. DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro, in a press conference held September 2, 2006 at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City, presented a complete science-based response from clean-up to mitigation and rehabilitation interventions. Gen. Glenn J. Rabonza, executive administrator of the Civil Defense Office and executive officer of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), also gave Task Force Guimaras updates.

Clean-Up Interventions In her presentation, Secretary Alabastro said that the science-based response represents all the inputs of the science community, including academic institutions. DOST’s emphasis on “Bunot, not buhok” dispels the rising notion that hair may be the best material to control the sludge. Experts recommend using natural materials like coconut husks, rice straw, feathers and corn cobs/stalks in controlling the spill. DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Graciano Yumul stressed that DOST does not recommend hair as a solution since there are no full studies to back it up and it is impractical in terms of volume. Human hair (“buhok” in Filipino) does not decompose easily, and once it is goes out to marine environment, it may be difficult to retrieve. Natural materials like coconut husk (“bunot” in Filipino) are easier to handle and they degrade faster.

Romblon, a coconut-producing province that established the first coco-methyl ester (CME) plant, has started to donate coconut husks for the cleanup operations in Guimaras. Feathers are also feasible, but they need to be dried well so as not to cause air pollution. Plans are also underway to conduct co-combustion or the re-use of the natural materials like coconut husks and rice straw used as improvised brooms to contain the oil. These materials will be collected to be re-used in a cement plant in Mindanao as alternative fuel and raw materials (AFR) for “cement kiln processing” and will be monitored by both DOST and DENR. The daily monitoring inputs of PAGASA on weather information, satellite imageries, and wave and ocean circulations model outputs will continue to guide agencies involved in the clean-up operations.

Oil spill impact assessments will also be undertaken in several areas with identified concerned agencies. Air, soil and water quality measurements will be established to determine the oil spill’s effects on marine ecosystem, including health hazards to those living in the affected coastal areas. To complete the environmental assessment, onshore geology will be studied. The UP-Visayas serves as the central repository of all data that will be generated.

Mitigation Plan for Residual Oil DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) has developed a technology on bioremediation on-site or off-site with the use of a bioreactor. The institute has identified oil-eating microorganisms and the best strain is the Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This strain is used worldwide to treat coastal waters contaminated with oil spill. The ITDI has locally isolated this strain in the oil-contaminated estero in Pandacan. Once used in the affected areas in Guimaras, the microbes will eat up the oil blobs, eventually die naturally, and settle at the seafloor leaving no harmful effects on the ecosystem. Application of this technology will require the cooperation and assistance of PETRON, LGUs, DENR, and the UP System. ITDI is ready to deploy its technology.

Rehabilitation Protocols DOST also leads activities on rehabilitation plans for Guimaras with DENR, DA, DOH, DOE, LGU, UP System, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), MARINA and NAMRIA as partners. Said rehabilitation activities are as follows:

• Study of long-term effects of oil spill on coastal and marine ecosystems

• Study of meteorological effect on oil spill-impacted areas

• Determination of long-term effects of oil spill event on the health of the local populace

• Reintroduction of depleted marine species

• Continuous monitoring of air, water, soil, health and other elements until they reach normal acceptable levels

• Provision of climatological information in determining alternative sea routes

• Study on the possible effects of oil spill to groundwater resources

Immediate roundtable discussions will be conducted on said activities for tasking and establishing timetables. Rehabilitation programs with quantifiable results are also included in the implementation plans. Currently, all agencies concerned in the oil spill are in the response and relief mode. According to Gen. Rabonza, the rehabilitation mode will require implementation of S&T inputs. To facilitate the clean-up process, DOST will certify all agencies intending to test or implement their technologies or processes in the clean-up activities while DENR will issue permits for environmental concerns. This step is instituted to deter agencies or individuals who may hamper or cause confusion in the remedial measures being implemented.

Meanwhile, the testing laboratories of the DOST Regional Office in Iloilo are being used for analytical purposes. Other testing and analysis centers in Region 6 have have assured that the famous Guimaras mango and groundwater fishes are unaffected by the oil spill. Crustaceans, however, are contaminated and should not be eaten. (S&T Media Service)

Department of Science and Technology, September 8, 2006

Philippines: Guimaras Oil Spill OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Date: 28 Aug 2006
Ref: OCHA/GVA – 0168
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Guimaras Oil Spill – Philippines

This situation report is based on information provided by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in the Philippines, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and media reports.

Situation

1. At around 16:00 hours on 11 August, 2006, the Depot Manager of Petron-Iloilo reported that Motor Tanker Solar I with a crew of 20 on board capsized due to weather and sea conditions approximately 16 nautical miles southwest of Guimaras Island. The exact location is N 10 15.31’ E122 29.09’ (13.3 nautical miles south of Lusacan Point, Guimaras) and it sunk to a depth of 640 metres. The tanker was chartered by Petron Corporation, the country’s largest oil refiner, from Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation to transport 13,000 barrels, or 2,067,000 litres, of industrial fuel oil or bunker oil, from Lamao, Bataan to Zamboanga City. Eighteen crewmembers survived while two were reported missing.

2. The tanker has spilled more than 200,000 litres of oil. A new oil spill was also reported in the general area, which is 7.5 kms long towards Guimaras Strait but the rate of the flow from the sunken tanker could not be determined.

3. A “State of Calamity” has been declared for the areas affected. Critical areas in Guimaras Province are in 28 Barangays in 4 municipalities – Neuva Valencia (11), San Lorenzo (7), Sibunag (9), and Buenavista (1); in Iloilo Province: 22 Barangays in 2 municipalities – Concepcion (5) and Ajuy (17); and, in Negros Occidental: 1 Barangay in Pulupandan Municipality. Threatened areas include 2 municipalities in Guimaras, 27 municipalities in Iloilo and 19 municipalities in Negros Occidental.

4. According to NDCC, 17,435 people (3,287 families) in 26 Baranguays on the island of Guimaras have been affected. NDCC also estimates that about 1,128 hectares of mangrove areas and 200 kilometres length of coastline area will be affected in other municipalities of Negros Occidental and Iloilo Provinces.

Municipalities in Guimaras No. of Baranguays Families Persons
Nueva Valencia 11 1,827 9,135
Sibunag 8 1,276 6,380
San Lorenzo 6 384 1,920
Buenavista 1 0 0
TOTAL 26 3,487 17,435

5. Agricultural Land Affected/Contaminated

Municipalities No. of Hectares and Types of Land Affected
Nueva Valencia - 1,143.46 hectares (183 terrestrial land, 960.45 brackish and marine water) of Taklong Island National Marine Reserve consisting of 41 islets in barangays Lapaz and San Roque
- 239 kms length of coastline areas
- 15.8 sq km of coral reef areas
- 105 hectares of mangrove areas
- 42 hectares of seaweed farms
San Lorenzo - 10 hectares mangrove areas
Sibunag - 200 hectares of mangrove areas
- 74 kms length of coastline areas
- 16 hectares of seaweed farms

National Response

6. On 23 August 2006, a Task Force Guimaras, composed of various lead and support agencies, was created to address the oil spill incident as directed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

7. Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and two civilian tugboats were seen around the whole day of 24 August 2006, cleaning up the spill. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently employing a multi-response action to combat the Guimaras Island oil spill.

8. Assessment Results:

- The need for the retrieval of the remaining oil in the sunken vessel is of paramount concern; this requires modern technology not available locally and there is a need for foreign expertise and assistance.

- The oil spill response operation may take a longer period of time to complete considering the extent of affected areas and the indications of continuous leaking of oil from the source.

- Continuous cooperation and support from the spiller, affected population, private responders, local government units, and other government agencies will greatly hasten the clean-up operation.

9. On-going Clean-up Operation

- The Task Force is supporting the clean-up operations base in Guimaras and supervising the Oil Spill Combat Teams in the shoreline of the affected barangays in Guimaras.

- PCG conducts regular meeting with Petron Corporation, Malayan Spill Operation Center, First Response Marine Service and Hamilton Sundstand Space Systems International on the action to be undertaken regarding oil spill.

- PCG spearheads the conduct of clean-up operation together with fisherfolks hired by Petron Foundation and private responders and in the containment operations.

10. A summary of the humanitarian assistance provided so far is presented below:

Agency/NGO Kind of Assistance Cost of Assistance
(PHP)
NDCC - Calamity Fund for Guimaras
- “ “ “ Iloilo
- “ “ “ Negros Occidental
- 600 sacks of NFA rice for PDCC Guimaras through RDCC-OCD 10,000,000.00
5,000,000.00
5,000,000.00
6,000,000.00
Provincial Government units 44 sacks of rice, 16 boxes and 68 tins of sardines 54,127.00
Municipality/Barangay local government units 60 sacks of rice, 14 boxes and 69 tins of sardines, and 15 boxes and 19 packs of noodles 50,904.00
NGO Assorted goods 146,580.00
DSWD 200 bags of rice 180,000.00
Petron Foundation - 16,410 kgs of rice, 24,615 boxes and 2,760 of canned goods
- Cash for work 771,750.00
750,400.00
Total - PHP 22,553,761.00
(USD 423,300)

International response

11. UNDP has an assessment team on the ground working with UNICEF. It has secured US$100,000 from BCPR, UNDP New York to be used for cash/food for work and to conduct damage assessment. UNDP has been providing technical assistance to the PCG and Department of Energy and Natural Resources on oil spill clean-up operations and guidance on procedures for compensatory claims against the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund, respectively.

12. UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit along with UNOSAT triggered the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters allowing for the collection and dissemination of satellite images of the disaster area. The UNOSAT Satellite produced a satellite-derived map showing the extent of the oil spill off the coast of Guimaras Island. The radar satellite image was acquired on 24 August 2006. UNOSAT is expected to monitor the oil slick in the coming days and will send out new maps when available.

13. The Maritime Organization (IMO) is in the process of assessing reports to determine what technical support to provide.

14. FAO is preparing to hire a consultant to conduct an initial assessment, particularly for rehabilitation and livelihood strategies

15. U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency personnel are on site to evaluate the form of assistance they can provide.

16. The Japanese Coast Guard’s National Strike Team and Maritime Disaster Prevent Center has sent a team to conduct assessment.

17. WWF is working with Petron, the Department of Energy, the Department of Environment, the Coast Guard, local governments, NGOs and communities and leading academic institutions involved in marine work. It is exploring front line alliances with the Red Cross as well as Save the Children. The GIS unit is processing satellite information to provide near-real-time information for national decision makers to use. It is also working with experts within the WWF Global Network to guide this process. WWF involvement to date includes a rapid assessment of damage on Guimaras Island, the process to draw up, fund, implement and monitor medium term rehabilitation and livelihood initiatives, and the promotion of prevention-related future options including, but not limited to, a review of shipping routes used for hazardous cargo; enhancement of oil spill response capacity at key local sites; establishment of a new trust fund that will be contributed into by oil companies for rapid response to future oil spills and to cover expenses beyond insurance coverage.

18. OCHA remains in close contact with UNDP in Manila and will provide further information as it becomes available.

19. This situation report, together with additional information on other ongoing emergencies, is also available on http://www.reliefweb.int.

GreenPeace's Photograph Gallery from Guimaras

GreenPeace Photographs of Guimaras Disaster

Guimaras Oil Spill Petition to Petron Corporation

An online petition has surfaced attempting to hold Petron Corp accountable for it's crimes against nature. Currently totaling 1459+ signatures, we hereby endorse you to read between the lines, do your own evaluation about the situation we are facing, and most importantly: to act!

Last August 11, 2006, Solar I, a tanker chartered by Petron to transport 2 million liters of oil sank somewhere in Guimaras Straight.

The resulting oil spill affected 200 kilometers of shoreline, damaging more than 1000 hectares of mangroves in the area, and damaging seaweed plantations, coral reefs, marine reserves and rich fishing grounds. The area is known to be home to the dugong and at least 2 of the 5 turtles found in the Philippines. This incident endangered the life and livelihood of over 10,000 people in the island.

Petron is legally and morally liable for the oil spill in Guimaras. Let us unite and demand that Petron answer this tragedy and be held accountable for the loss of natural resources and livelihood of the people of the island.

Boycott Petron products until they have fulfilled their moral and legal obligations to all those affected by this tragedy. Let us also lobby for stringent laws to regulate the transport of oil and all hazardous substance in our oceans.

(A) Manila.org

DENR-NAMRIA Vessel Locates Sunken Tanker M/T SOLAR 1

Locating the sunken vessel M/T Solar will no longer be tedious and backbreaking for the Japanese high-tech ship which begins to establish today the location of M/T Solar 1.

Reason: the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), has earlier determined the position of the sunken vessel.

The DENR ship has established the position of MT Solar 1 at Latitude 10° 15.52´ North, Longitude 122° 29.15´ East at a depth of 640 meters, or about 13.3 nautical miles (24 kms) south of Lusaran Point, Guimaras. The position is about 5 kilometers eastward from the geographic coordinates of the spot where MT Solar 1 reportedly sank on 11 August 2006.

This information had been relayed to the crew of the Japanese vessel which will utilize sophisticated gadgets in conducting its own search of the sunken MT Solar 1. Using robotics, the Japanese vessel will determine how the bunker oil still stored in the compartments of the sunken vessel can be retrieved to prevent further environmental damage.

Upon instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to assist in locating the sunken vessel, DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes directed NAMRIA Administrator Diony Ventura on 16 August 2006 to deploy the agency’s multidisciplinary state-of-the-art twin vessels, Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Hydrographer Ventura and BRP Hydrographer Presbitero. The vessels started their survey on 17 August 2006 within the area where the M/T Solar I sank, which was initially reported at Latitude 10° 14.5´ N, Longitude 122° 26.1´ E.

The DENR-NAMRIA’s multipurpose survey vessels are specially designed for conducting submarine topographic and geological surveys, geomagnetic and gravity measurements, oceanographic observations, scientific investigations and charting the Exclusive Economic Zone, navigational lanes, ports and harbors, channels, inland waters, and coastal areas; and location of objects on the seafloor such as sunken vessel, wrecks, and other potential hazards to navigation.

Detailed seabed survey using the multi-beam sonar on side-scanning mode was conducted by BRP Ventura and detected the sunken vessel approximately measuring 73 meters long, whose breadth is 15 meters at one end and 11 meters at mid-section. The measurement indicates that the vessel may be lying on its side, with the wider end being the bridge (aft) portion while the other end (bow) may be partially submerged in sediment.

The survey results were presented to the key officials of Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co., Ltd. and Petron Corporation by Commander Virgilio Aligora, Commanding Officer of BRPH Ventura on August 30 aboard his vessel. The officials included Felimon Antiporta, VP for Operations, Petron; Noboyuri Itoh, salvage master of Shinshei Maru, and Mr. Parker, PN Insurance.

The briefing covered a comparison of the amplitude and side-scan data of the suspected wreck to the surroundings and an overlaying of the side-scan data and the bathymetric data. The bathymetry information clearly showed the shape of the seabed while the side-scan data indicated the materials forming the seafloor. Combining bottom-composition information provided by side-scan sonar with the depth information from range-finding sonar indicated the characteristics of the ocean bottom. These convinced the company officials that the data presented approximate the size of M/T Solar 1 which is 73 meters by 11.6 meters.

Secretary Avelino Cruz, Chairman of National Disaster Coordinating Council and Secretary of National Defense, and the Philippine Coast Guard have been informed of the location of the sunken MT Solar 1.

Oil-Eating Bacteria Eyed to Clean Solar Oil Spill

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its corporate arm, the Natural Resource Development Corporation (NRDC), is looking at biotechnology as a tool to combat the ill-effects of the August 11 Solar oil spill off the coast of Guimaras.

DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said NRDC’s proposal to purchase a state-of –the-art machine that could reproduce billions of microbes that could eat oil slicks through a process called “bio-remediation.”

Bio-remediation was used to clean up an oil spill in Louisiana, USA, and the mess was cleaned up “in a matter of two months,” Reyes said.

The environment chief said that NRDC is eyeing Petron Phils. to help fund the purchase of the equipment which is available only in the United States.

NRDC president Rey Francis Alcozeba said the machine, available in the US, costs around $500,000 and is capable of reproducing the microbe at the rate of 100 million parts per milliliter.

“The machine is capable of producing the desired unadulterated microbes in large quantities that could make an impact on the oil slicks.

“Bio-remediation could really hasten the cleanup efforts in Guimaras. In contrast, it would take years for the oil to break down through a process called biodegradation if left to itself,” Alcozeba explained.

He declined, however, to give a time frame on how fast bio-remediation could hasten the cleaning process, noting that it would depend on the extent of the damage which DENR marine specialists are still determining.

“The technology is not new. Bio-remediation was also used in Venezuela to clean an oil spill last year,” Alcozeba added. In November 2005, a Danish shipping vessel carrying about 550 cubic meters of fuel oil collided with a Liberian vessel near Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo shipping lane that resulted in the leaking of oil from the Danish vessel.

According to Alcozeba, the microbes are classified by the United States Food and Drugs Administration as “Class 1 food-grade, none-pathogenic microorganism” and should therefore pose no hazard to the marine organisms in Guimaras. He assured that the microbes feeds only on the oil substance and quickly die once they run out of oil to feed on.

Commercially called as “pristine sea” microbes, the technology makes use of three oil-zapping bacteria, namely: Pseudomonas azelaica, Serratia mercescens, and Xanthomonas maltopilla.

Cost of Guimaras Oil Spill

Bunker fuel oil oozing from a sunken tanker off Guimaras Island has affected large swaths of Western Visayas, making it the biggest oil spill in the country.

To the poor dependent on the sea for their livelihood, the spill has brought economic disaster. Women have stopped gathering shells while men have not gone out fishing in the badly hit areas of Guimaras. The oil spill has also brought sickness to residents.

Damage to the environment goes beyond the hundreds of hectares of marine reserve and mangroves, and kilometer upon kilometer of shoreline smothered with black sludge. The spill has killed wildlife like birds, turtles and sea snakes. It now threatens dugongs, dolphins, blue crabs, giant clams and other life forms in the Guimaras Strait and Visayan Sea.

100 km to 220 km Tainted coastline

1,100 ha Spoiled marine reserve

454 ha Mangroves smothered with oil

26,000 People affected in Guimaras

136 Families (400 residents) evacuated from the villages of La Paz and Cabalagnan in Nueva Valencia town, Guimaras (as of Aug. 29)

3 and 4 Towns affected in Guimaras and Iloilo, respectively

10,000 Fisher folk bereft of daily income totaling between P3 million and P5 million

P57 million Worth of destroyed marine resources in fish cages and fish pens, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

P50 million Losses in shrimp industry in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental

P50 million Losses in anchovy industry in Valladolid, Negros Occidental

P3.57 million Foregone revenue from tourism in Guimaras from Aug. 11 to Aug. 27

Oil Spill Site - Japanese survey vessel MT Shinsei Maru locates the sunken oil tanker MT Solar I. 23.4 km off Barangay La Paz in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras; Latitude: 10 degrees 15 minutes 31 seconds north; and Longitude: 122 degrees 29 minutes 13.3 seconds east. Depth: 640 meters

MT Solar I - Length: 79 meters;
Load: 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel oil; Owner: Sunshine Maritime Development Corp.; Point of origin: Refinery of Petron Corp. in Limay, Bataan; Destination: Zamboanga del Sur; Oil leaked: 1.3 million liters according to a science undersecretary;
200,000-300,000 liters according to the Philippine Coast Guard. MT Solar I sank on Aug. 11 at around 4:10 p.m.

Affected: residents, mangrove, mudcrab, green sea turtle, tilapia, varied seagrass, mangrove shrimp,starfish, seasnake.

Threatened: man’s health and livelihood, giant clam, blue crab, dolphin, dugong, sea cucumber, corals.

INQ7.net, Sunday, September 3, 2006

P100-Million Bond for Oil Cleanup Sought From Petron, Shipper

Despite Petron Corp.’s commitment to support a cleanup, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has started looking into the liability of the oil company and Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. (SMDC) for the massive oil spill in Guimaras Strait.

The Philippine Coast Guard is contemplating a more drastic measure. Frustrated over the slow response to the oil spill on the part of Petron and Sunshine Maritime, PCG station chief Cmdr. Harold Jarder said the PCG would require the two companies to post a bond of P100 million to pay for the cleanup. Petron and Sunshine Maritime should also pay for the fuel expenses of Coast Guard ships, which had reached P10 million in just a week of cleanup operations, Jarder said.

“No amount of cleanup will suffice. We can’t sleep as long as the tanker is still there,” Jarder, on-scene commander in the cleanup operations, said during a meeting with officials of the province and city of Iloilo yesterday. Initial reports have it that the oil spill, the second in the country in less than a year, could cause massive pollution in violation of Republic Act No. 9275 or the Clean Water Act.

“There is a violation, of course, but when you file the case, you have to have complete documents. It cannot be half-baked … We’re still assessing the damage because it could be more than what we see now,” Armi Jane Borje, environment undersecretary for legal affairs, told the Inquirer yesterday. The Clean Water Act, passed in 2004, prohibits the “discharging, depositing or causing to be deposited (of) material directly or indirectly into the water bodies or along the margins of any surface water … which could cause water pollution or impede the natural flow in the water body.”

RA 9275 imposes a penalty of P10,000 to P200,000 for every day of violation, on top of possible closure or suspension of operations of erring parties. Failure to undertake cleanup operations “willfully or through gross negligence” is punishable by 2 to 4 years’ imprisonment and a fine of P50,000 to P100,000 per day of violation, according to Section 28 of RA 9275. If the failure to clean up results in “serious injury or loss of life and/or irreversible contamination of surface, ground, coastal and marine water,” the violators could be punished with imprisonment of 6 to 12 years and a fine of P500,000 for each day that the contamination continues.

“They cannot run away from the case. The case is on top of the damage, but what the Secretary (Angelo T. Reyes) wants to focus on right now is remediation,” Borje said.
Borje said the DENR still needed to review the contract between Petron and SMDC to see which party was liable for violating the Clean Water Act. Petron hired Sunshine Maritime, owner of the MT Solar I, to transport 2 million liters of bunker fuel oil from its refinery in Limay, Bataan, to Zamboanga del Sur. The tanker sank off Guimaras on Aug. 11 and has released at least 200,000 liters of the fuel into the sea.

The DENR in Western Visayas has gathered soft sea surface and surface water samples from the affected areas to determine the extent of pollution in the waters of Guimaras. Guimaras Gov. Joaquin Nava said the oil spill had affected or damaged 15 sq km of coral reefs, 50 ha of seaweed plantations, more than 200 km of coastline, 1,000 ha of marine reserves and two resort islands.

State of Calamity - Environment watchdog Greenpeace yesterday called on the Arroyo administration to immediately declare a state of calamity in the areas affected by the oil spill. In a statement, Greenpeace campaigner Beau Baconguis said the origin of the oil slick was located at 7.3 nautical miles, or 11.7 km southwest, of Unisan, the southernmost isle in the group of islands forming Guimaras. Baconguis was aboard the Greenpeace ship MY Esperanza that arrived at the oil spill Ground Zero in Guimaras Strait Sunday morning to start assessing the damage caused by the oil spill. He said the oil slick had started as a thin strip but fanned out across the Guimaras Strait as it came closer to the islands of Guimaras and Negros. Thick oil globules were seen floating toward smaller islands and reefs of Guimaras, he said. “This is only about 10 percent of the oil contained in the sunken tanker but it had already reached a very wide area and devastation was extensive,” the campaigner said. Greenpeace has demanded that Petron be held accountable for damage to the environment and for economic losses in these areas. Scientists and environmental experts joined Greenpeace in its voyage to the site of the disaster.

Long-Term Effects - Some who went onshore saw two mangrove areas near the Taklong marine sanctuary covered in oil sludge and already showing signs of death, Greenpeace said. Janet Cotter of the Greenpeace Science Unit in the United Kingdom said the oil spill would have a profound impact on the environment and people. “Although the visible pollution can be cleaned up to a certain extent, the long-term toxic effects of the oil pollution can kill mangroves and corals, impacting the rich marine biodiversity found in this area and affecting people’s livelihoods for years to come,” he said. Petron has told the DENR, other agencies and nongovernment organizations like the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines at a meeting on Sunday that the company was planning to suck out the remaining bunker fuel before re-floating the sunken vessel, which is 900 meters under the sea, beyond the reach of divers.

Dismayed - The Philippine Coast Guard would ask officials of Petron and Sunshine Maritime to submit their action plan for the retrieval of the sunken tanker. “We are dismayed that they have no concrete, viable action plans yet for the retrieval of the tanker more than a week after it sank,” PCG spokesperson Lt. Commander Joseph Coyme said. “What is the company they have contracted? When will the recovery of the tanker start?” Coyme said the PCG would send a letter today advising Petron and Sunshine Maritime Development of the ultimatum.

Water Samples - The water samples taken by the DENR regional office have been submitted to a laboratory in Iloilo for examination. The results will be available in one or two weeks, Environment Undersecretary Francisco Bravo said. “We cannot go and decide without the facts yet. It will take one or two weeks before we get the results,” said Bravo, who chairs the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB). The results of the water sampling and analysis would be submitted by the DENR regional director to the PAB, along with its recommendations. The PAB would then deliberate on the case and forward its own recommendation to the environment secretary for final decision. The biggest penalty imposed so far by the government for violation of the Clean Water Act was against Australian mining firm Lafayette Philippines Inc. It was fined P10.4 million for two mine tailings spills that caused fish kills in Rapu-Rapu island, Albay province.

Senate Probe - In the Senate, Sen. Jamby Madrigal is seeking a Senate investigation of the oil spill and the liability of Petron. She said Petron could not simply wash its hands of any liability in the disaster. A Petron spokesperson said on television that the company had no legal liability in the oil spill but had taken the “moral responsibility” of attending to its cleanup. “Petron management was negligent and they should be fined for this appalling incident. It is morally and legally reprehensible for them to do otherwise,” Madrigal said in a statement. The senator said she would file a bill requiring the use of tankers with double-hulls in the transport of crude and petroleum products and banning them from passing through protected marine sites. For his part, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan asked what the National Disaster Coordinating Council has been doing about the oil spill. He said the absence of the NDCC from the picture created the perception that the government was inept and helpless in responding to the problem.

Reports by Carla P. Gomez and Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas; Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Juliet Labog-Javellana and Leila B. Salaverria in Manila, INQ7Express

Sunshine Maritime Development Corp.

Sunshine Maritime Development Corp.
Airport Global Plaza, Ground Floor
4646 Seaside Drive
Parañaque, Metro Manila

Owners:
Mototsugu Yamaguchi
Hiroyasu Yamaguchi
Tomoki Tsubomoto
Hiromi Irishika
Dionisio Parulan
Gregorio Flores
Clemente Cancio
Roberto Mena
Angelita Buenaventura

Vicente Suazo, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Administrator, said the Authority has issued a cease and desist order against Sunshine Maritime Development Corp, following the disaster. Data from Marina’s website showed that Sunshine Maritime has three other tankers: the Kosho, built in 1985; the Yusel, built in 1986; and the Newhinase, built in 1988. The Manilla Times

Four Japanese nationals and five Filipino incorporators of the Sunshine Maritime Development Corp., owner of motor tanker Solar 1 that sank off Guimaras and caused a massive oil spill, were placed under the watch-list of the Bureau of Immigration (BI). In a memorandum to Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr., Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. ordered that Mototsugu Yamaguchi, Hiroyasu Yamaguchi, Tomoki Tsubomoto, Hiromi Irishika and their Filipino partners Dionisio Parulan, Gregorio Flores, Clemente Cancio, Roberto Mena and Angelita Buenaventura be included in the watch-list. Sun Star

The sunken oil tanker Solar l owned by the Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. was a “decrepit” ship tanker and “not seaworthy”, according to former Senator Ernesto Maceda and the Special Board of Marine Inquiry (SMBI). Maceda disclosed that the vessel could already be classified as “junk” in Japan and not really effective for commercial use. The SBMI said in yesterday’s hearing that Solar l was not seaworthy. It was also gathered during the hearing that Sunshine Maritime Development Corp., with a capitalization of only P5 million, is a dummy of a Japanese businessman. “How could a company with only P5 million capital buy a brand new tanker? Something is fishy in the transaction between Petron and Sunshine.” Panay News

JAMBY: Solar 1 - Identity Crisis Makes Ship Not Seaworthy

The incident involving the oil spill in Guimaras Island is a wake-up call. There is more to it than meets the eye. I have received information coming from concerned maritime officials that, the MT Solar I, the vessel owned by Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation was a vessel bound for disaster from the very day it arrived in Philippine shores.

So that the Filipino people may know, and in the interest of truth, I bring to your attention the following facts based on available records:

• The MT Solar I was a converted vessel. Its former names were New Hinase and Chie Maru no.8. According to Lloyd’s Register of Shipping Vessels, the MT Solar was initially a tanker in 1988 under the name Chie Maru no.8. In 1989, it was converted into a Chemical Tanker under the name New Hinase. From a Chemical Tanker, it was again reconverted into an oil tanker presumably in the Philippines. This is highly questionable and anomalous. Ang laki, ang haba at ang bigat ng barko ay pabago-bago. Hindi na natin malaman kung anong klase ito. Ang identity crisis na ito ang dahilan ng paglubog.

• The convertions were done with the full knowledge and consent of the Maritime Authority (MARINA), based on evidence of the licenses given to the ship to operate in Philippine waters compromised greatly the seaworthiness of the ship.

• There is strong evidence that, the vessel was overloaded and all available air space between the cofferdams were also loaded with oil, thereby causing loss of stability and trim. According to the report prepared by Coast Guard Investigating Officer Arnie Santiago, the ship sank in a matter of twenty (20) minutes. Maritime experts believe that, for a vessel like this to sink so quickly water would have seeped in, thereby discharging 90% of the bunker oil into the sea.

• The vessel, along with two others, was acquired in 2001, only a year after Sunshine Maritime Management was incorporated. How was it that a corporation with only a paid up capital of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000.000.00) able to acquire these vessels?

• If the captain of the vessel did not have the tanker safety training certificate, we are in doubt if the rest of the crew were also certified on tanker safety. Bakit ito pinayagan ng MARINA?

These facts are not being revealed by the owner and PETRON, which chartered the vessel. Is the being done deliberately? Ito ba ay isang cover-up?

Further, I strongly condemn the use by the Philippine Coast Guard of chemical dispersants in the clean-up. This is a clear case of double kill! Instead of using chemical dispersants which kill marine life, PETRON and Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation should pay for the use of bioremediation, which will not harm human or marine life.

Finally, I challenge Mrs. Arroyo to create instead an independent body to probe this alleged incident. The MARINA which allowed the registration of a badly modified vessel cannot be an investigator, judge and executioner at the same time.

The tragedy will only get worst. Due to the lax response of government in handling this issue, the oil spill is now expected to move and reach the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan when the Northeast Monsoon winds shift by next week.

This incident will be marked not only as the worst oil spill in the Philippines but also as on the worst in the world. This was tragedy abetted and aided by corruption and negligence. Ilan pa kayang mga floating coffins and bumibiyahe sa karagatan ng Pilipinas?


Senate of the Philippines

Path of Environmental Disaster

The oil slick coming from Panay Gulf was carried to the North by the sea current through Guimaras Strait. The oil slick was sighted about 500 meters off Brgy. Lanas, Barotac Nuevo. It hit mainland Panay starting at Bay-ang Point at the town of Ajuy, Iloilo last August 19.

At Ajuy, coastal barangays at the periphery of Canal Bay and Ajuy bay were affected. The coastal barangays are Day-ong, Sitio Culasi, Barredo, Tagohangin, Bocana Buglas, Siangon. The islands off the coast of Ajuy namely Nasidman, Calabasa Island, Guin-asyan Diutay, Guin-asyan Daku, Binongan-an, Brgy. Puntaburi, Tagubanhan Island were affected as well.

From Ajuy Bay, the oil slick moved up North through Apitong Pass while some moved left at Payong Point near the southern promontory of Tagubahan Island and to the Visayan Sea. Barangays affected are Brgy. Bangonon, Nipa, Plandico, Botlog, Polopiña, Tambaliza and Brgy. Loong.

Hair and Feathers

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered drop-off centres for human hair and chicken feathers to be set up in response to a call by the Coast Guard on Thursday for absorbent material to help soak up the spill.

"This is a national calamity that demands the cooperation and solidarity of all Filipinos," said Arroyo, who is scheduled to visit Guimaras on Saturday. "Let us do what has to be done first and deal with the blame later."
Planet ARK

CONCEPCION, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard appealed on Thursday for chicken feathers and human hair to help sponge up the country's worst oil spill.

A tanker chartered by refiner Petron Corp. sank in heavy seas on Aug. 11, oozing about a 10th of its 2 million litre cargo of industrial fuel off the central island of Guimaras, affecting 40,000 people and 200 km (120 miles) of coastline.
Petron, in which the Philippine government and Saudi state oil firm Saudi Aramco each have a 40 percent stake, said a fresh spill was spotted late on Wednesday.

"We are appealing for the supply of indigenous absorbent materials like chicken feathers, human hair and rice straw," Harold Jarder, head of the Coast Guard in Iloilo, a province north of Guimaras, told Reuters.

Jarder said San Miguel Corp., Southeast Asia's largest food and beverage conglomerate, promised to donate one tonne of chicken feathers a day from its plants in Iloilo and nearby Bacolod City. Officials at San Miguel, the Philippines largest seller of poultry products, confirmed the plan but said details were still being worked out.

Les Reyes, owner of one of the country's largest hairdressing chains, said his 200 shops had started collecting hair clippings on Tuesday. "This is in response to the call of Greenpeace," Reyes said, adding he had also asked other salons to donate hair to the Coast Guard.

Jarder said chicken feathers and human hair will be placed in sacks tied to bamboo poles and placed along the coastlines of affected villages. Some communities in Guimaras are already using rice straw in sacks to try to contain the spill, which has affected 27 coastal villages and a marine reserve and is spreading in a northeast direction towards the islands of Negros, Cebu and Masbate.

In Concepcion town in Iloilo, residents said they were taking pre-emptive action before the floating bunker oil could hurt their livelihood. "Operators of fish pens and ponds not hit by the oil spill were forced to harvest fish," town mayor Raul Banias said. Petron said it was employing 869 people per day in Guimaras, paying them 200 pesos each, to clean the beaches and mangrove trees of the black sludge.

"We are doing everything humanly possible to assist those affected," Nicasio Alcantara, chairman of Petron, told a news conference. Petron said the owner of the 998-tonne tanker, local firm Sunshine Maritime Development Corp., has an insurance cover of up to US$6.7 million to cover this sort of accident. If the insurance cover is not enough, Petron and the owner of the tanker can tap up to US$301 million from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. Oil companies worldwide contribute to the fund to cover oil spills, Mario Lucas, executive director at Petron, said.
Planet ARK REUTERS NEWS SERVICE, by Leo Solinap

Captain, Crew of Ill-fated Oil Tanker Had Expired Licenses

Guimaras, The Philippines (Aug 25, 2006 18:41 EST) The Special Board of Marine Inquiry said the captain and several crew members of the ill-fated M/T Solar 1 have expired licenses and certification papers, Bandila reported Friday. Initial investigations conducted by SBMI showed that certifications of Norberto Aguro, the oil tanker's captain, for General Tanker Familiarization and Advance Training on Chemical Tanker Operations expired in March 2002. The report said Aguro has no training to man specialized oil tankers since his certificate of competency is only for a chemical tanker. SBMI also discovered that Solar 1 crew members Herminio Renger, Jesse Angel, Reynaldo Torio and Victor Morados have expired certificates for General Tanker Familiarization.

The panel asked the Professional Regulation Commission to determine if Aguro and the four crewmen violated PRC regulations by using expired licenses and certificates. The TV Patrol World report said SBMI is also questioning the oil tanker's owner use of expired interim documents of compliance, which certify that the ship complies with proper safety regulations. SBMI Chairman Danilo Abinoja said he summoned Aguro and his crew, officials of the Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. and Petron Corp. to the inquiry on August 29 to 30.

The M/T Solar 1 sank last August 11 off the coast of Guimaras island in Iloilo province. The tanker has been leaking oil since, which affected coastal villages of the province.

President Arroyo on Friday declared the oil spill a national calamity as the slick spread rapidly and threatened some of the country's richest fishing grounds in the Visayas. Mrs. Arroyo, who made the declaration during the 18th National Convention of the National Prosecutors’ Week in Cebu, said the oil disaster in Guimaras demands the cooperation and solidarity of all Filipinos. "I call upon Petron and the ship owner to immediately clean up the mess and the Task Force Guimaras and Coast Guard Admiral Arthur Gosingan to attend to environmental and health issues," she said.

Medical teams were already deployed to the island and affected neighboring provinces to assist and treat residents experiencing skin irritation and respiratory problems due to the oil slick.

Mrs. Arroyo is set to visit Guimaras island on Saturday to personally assess the extent of damage brought about by the oil spill.

Because of a lack of locally available equipment and technology to reach the wreck, believed to be in depths of up to 2,600 feet (600 meters), the Philippine government has focused on damage mitigation.

Coast Guard ships as well as boats provided by Petron are battling the slick with oil spill booms and chemical dispersants. The aim is to contain the oil, dragged by the northeast current through the strait, before it reaches the open waters of the Visayan Sea, the civil defense office said.

More than 1,000 hectares of mangroves and 200 more kilometers of coasts are threatened in Panay and Negros, it added.

The Department of Health has over 60 doctors and nurses in the area treating over 300 people suffering from respiratory problems, skin irritations, coughing and asthma from the oil.

Sen. Jamby Madrigal, meanwhile, questioned the name changes the Solar 1 went through before it was acquired by Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. Madrigal told a press conference the ship was christened in Japan as Chie Maru No. 8, an oil tanker, but it was changed to New Himase when it was converted into a chemical tanker. She said it was reconverted into an oil tanker with its present name when it was acquired by Sunshine Maritime Development Corp. "The metal configuration and hold strength are already different. It is not capable of carrying dirty cargo. We do not know what happened when it was brought to the Philippines. Who did the conversion?" she said. Madrigal said the ship was overloaded, which could have been the reason why it sank so fast after encountering big waves. She also said the government should ban the use of chemical dispersants in cleaning up the slick because they damage aquatic resources. She suggested that Petron use instead bioremediation, a process that uses oil-eating bacteria to break down the slick. Chemical dispersants "kill not only the fish but also the coral reefs," Madrigal said. She also asked why Petron chartered a small company like Sunshine Maritime, which has only a P10-million capital, to deliver its oil.

Class action

Petron also faces a class action from thousands of residents in 21 Guimaras barangays affected by the oil spill. Emily Lopez, the ambassador to Italy, a former Guimaras congresswoman and the first governor of the province, said the people are getting restless over Petron’s delaying tactics to respond to its obligations. "They have lost their livelihood and yet it seems the company is not doing everything to address the problem. They’re running out of their patience," Lopez told reporters.

The fisherfolk group Pamalakaya and the environmental activist Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment have served notice they would file a class action against Petron for negligence. Lopez said that about 2,000 people, mostly small fishermen, have lost their livelihood because of the oil spill. Petron is paying 800 of the affected residents P200 a day each for the cleanup.


Underwater Times.com

Who's Who

Petron Corp.
Nicasio Alcantara, Chairman
Virginia Ruivivar, Petron Public Affairs Manager
Carlos Tan, Petron spokesman
Rolando Salonga, Petron’s distribution officer
Ligtas Guimaras program

Sunshine Maritime Development
Clemente Cancio, President of the Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation
Mototsugu Yamaguchi
Hiroyasu Yamaguchi
Tomoki Tsubomoto
Hiromi Irishika
Dionisio Parulan
Gregorio Flores
Roberto Mena
Angelita Buenaventur

SOLAR 1
Capt. Norberto F. Arguro, expired license was overlooked
Herminio Renger, crew member, expired certificates for General Tanker Familiarization (GTF)
Jesse Angel, crew member, expired certificates for GTF
Reynaldo Torio, crew member, expired certificates for GTF
Victor Morados, crew member, expired certificates for GTF

Philippine Coast Guard
Commander Joseph M. Coyme
Cmdr. Harold Jarder, Station Chief
Capt. Luis Tuason, district commander of the Coast Guard in Western Visayas
Captain Nilo Sazon, squadron commander of the 601st Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary
EDSA II Search & Rescue Vessel
Daniel Gayosa, Commander, EDSA II

Fukuda Salvage and Marine Works Co. Ltd. (Japan)
SHIN SEI MARU, Japanese survey ship

Greenpeace
Von Hernandez, Campaign Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia
MY ESPERANZA
Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Toxics campaigner, onboard the Esperanza
Janet Cotter, Greenpeace UK Science Unit, onboard the Esperanza
Arthur Jones Dionio, Regional Media Campaigner, onboard Esperanza

Republic of the Philippines Government
Cong. Edgar Espinosa
Joaquin C. Rahman Nava, MD., Governor, Province of Guismaras
Connie Gamuya, Counsellor of La Paz, Island of Guimaras
Leandro Mendoza, RP Transportation and Communications Secretary
Jerry Treñas, Mayor, Iloilo
Raul Gonzalez, RP Justice Secretary
Sen. Jamby Madrigal
Emily Lopez, RP Ambassador to Italy, former Guimaras Congresswoman, first Governor of the province
Armi Jane Borje, RP Environment Undersecretary for Legal Affairs
Angelo T. Reyes, RP Secretary
Francisco Bravo, RP Environment Undersecretary
Esperanza Cabral, RP Secretary of Social Welfare
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, RP President

Special Board of Marine Inquiry
Danilo Abinoja, SBMI Chairman

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
Dr. Prisco Nilo, Officer in Charge

Negros Forest and Marine Conservation Foundation
Gerry Ledesma

National Disaster Coordinating Council

Regional Disaster Coordinating Council


Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

What's On The Menu?

Oil blobs reach Iloilo seafood resto belt

ILOILO City – Some 6.8 kilometers of the seafood restaurant belt here are at risk of being contaminated with spilled bunker fuel oil from MT Solar 1. Residents reported blobs of oil along the shorelines of Molo Boulevard all the way to Villa Beach and Brgy. Sto. Niño Sur in Arevalo District.

The scattered blobs of oil are not as pronounced as those found in Guimaras and measure about one to two inches in diameter, said Mayor Jerry Treñas who visited the area.

The seafood restaurant belt, popularly known as Villa Beach, is lined with resorts and seafood restaurants -- the most famous of which are Tatoy’s Manokan and Breakthrough sa Villa frequented by tourists.

Cottages for rent and smaller eateries selling fresh and cooked sea food, roasted pig, and fresh oysters line the beach of grey and black sand facing Guimaras Island.

The Villa Beach area is a major revenue earner for Iloilo City.

Treñas said some 20 spill booms measuring 30 feet each have already been lowered in the affected area but the mayor said these are not enough given the length of the places where oil blobs were found.

Treñas also said that as of yesterday past noon, he received reports that shorelines along barangays Ortiz and Gen. Hughes in downtown Iloilo City also had blobs of oil.

The mayor said he has already discussed with Petron officials yesterday measures on how to prevent the oil spill from getting near the shores of Iloilo City.

The city government activated its Crisis Management Center, City Agriculturist and other concerned departments. Volunteer organizations also came forward to help restrain oil-contaminated debris and bunker fuel globules from reaching the shores.

The threatened barangays are Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte, Calumpang, Calaparan, San Juan, Boulevard, Tanza Baybay, North Baluarte and South Baluarte.

“Mostly affected are the residents whose source of income is fishing,” said Sto. Niño Sur Barangay Captain Antonio Lanceta. He said 70 percent of the population of his barangay relies on the sea for their livelihood.
Panay News, WHAT’S ON THE MENU?, by HAZEL P. VILLA

Petron's Ligtas Guimaras web site

Ligtas Guimaras

Petron Press Release, 08/24/2006

STATEMENT OF PETRON CHAIRMAN & CEO NICASIO I. ALCANTARA ON GUIMARAS OIL SPILL
Thursday, August 24, 2006

We at Petron, deeply regret this unfortunate incident and will take responsibility in addressing the containment and recovery of the oil spill both on land and sea, and more importantly, map out the long-term rehabilitation of the island of Guimaras and other affected areas.

We are doing everything humanly possible to assist those affected. In our effort to attend to the needs of the people immediately, we may have inadvertently set aside our equally important obligation to keep the media and the rest of the country informed of what we are doing.

Under our Ligtas Guimaras program, we have already cleared 25 kilometers of shoreline and we expect the on-shore clean-up to finish in 45 days. We are currently employing 869 people from affected communities daily and we aim to increase this number in the coming days. We have also deployed about 5% of the total workforce of Petron to participate in the work being done on the island.

In this clean-up and rehabilitation efforts, we would want to make it clear that we have made funds readily available for legitimate expenses and requests. We will continue to commit all necessary Petron resources in support of this effort. We are committed to the solution of this problem.

At sea, we have deployed substantial equipment including oil skimmers, oil spill booms, dispersants, and Waterborne Industry Spill Equipment (WISE) tugboats to combat the oil spill. We have also placed properly-equipped vessels in strategic areas to monitor the oil spill and ensure that this is contained.

As we reported yesterday, we are bringing in Fukada Salvage and Marine Works. Their vessel, Shinsei Maru, is equipped with a Remote Operated Vehicle which has the capability to search the seabed down to 2,000 meters and take photos to determine the sunken ship’s exact location and condition. We expect the vessel to arrive before the end of the week and begin its work immediately. This will dictate our next course of action.

We are also in touch with environmental experts from U.P. Visayas, Siliman University and the World Wildlife Fund to develop a long-term rehabilitation plan.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those groups and individuals who have sent their assistance to the province of Guimaras.

In closing, I would like to assure the people of Guimaras that we will be there and do whatever it takes to clean-up and rehabilitate the strait and island of Guimaras and other affected areas.

Maraming salamat!

Petron Press Release, 08/23/2006

PETRON BRINGS IN JAPANESE SALVAGE EXPERTS TO INSPECT M/T SOLAR 1
Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Petron Corporation said that it would bring in a Japanese salvage company Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co., Ltd. to inspect the sunken vessel M/T Solar 1 which is estimated to be under 640 meters of water (2,100 feet).

The salvage ship of Fukada is based in Okinawa, Japan and it will take 3 days for it to reach the site of Guimaras Island. The ship is equipped with state of the art monitoring equipment that provides images of the vessel at the ocean floor as it is scanned utilizing a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that will allow it to search the seabed and determine the position and condition of M/T Solar 1.

The company has been coordinating with the Protection and Indemnity Club (P&I), which will pay for the engagement. P&Iis the marine insurance. Petrol will also assist in securing customs and other government clearances of Sunshine Maritime which owns M/T Solar 1. It covers third party liabilities and expenses arising from owning ships or operating ships as principals

“While our aerial surveys indicate that the leak has stopped, we have been gravely concerned about the possibility that the oil remaining in the vessel will continue to be released into the environment,” Petron Chairman and CEO Nicasio I. Alcantara said. “With the arrival of ship we hope to establish the real condition of Solar 1 and put to rest all this speculation.”

Alcantara added that the result of the underwater survey will dictate the next course of action Petron is going to take.

It has been very difficult to ascertain the real condition of M/T Solar 1 because of the depth. In recent memory, 2,100 feet is the greatest depth any oil tanker has ever been sunk.

At sea, Petron has deployed equipment which includes W.I.S.E. (Waterborne Industry Spill Response) tugboats, oil spill booms, absorbent pads, oil skimmers, dispersants etc. Four oil spill response teams have been assisting in clean-up operations.

The company has likewise been very active on the ground organizing the communities affected under Petron’s Ligtas Guimaras program to help in clean-up operations onshore. Under a “Cash-for-Work” scheme, Petron has been employing an average of 740 people daily. As of August 22, the clean-up teams have already cleared 25 kilometers of shoreline and it is estimated that it will take 30-45 days for the clean-up to be completed.

“While we have been focusing most of our efforts to clean-up operations, we are taking a more strategic look at developing long-term solutions to rehabilitate damaged areas in close partnership with University of the Philippines–Visayas, World Wildlife Fund, and Siliman University,” Alcantara said. “We are committed to stay in Guimaras as long as necessary.”