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