Guimaras Oil Spill

International Peer Reviewed Journal

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Vol. 1 January 2013International Peer Reviewed Journaldoi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7718/iamure.ijme.v1i1.338

IAMURE: International Journal of Marine EcologyThis journal is published by IAMURE

Multidisciplinary Research, an ISO 9001:2008 Certified by AJA Registrars, Inc.

The After Effects of Oil Spill in Guimaras,

Philippines

ROLANDO A. ALIMENORCID No. 0000-0002-3040-9339

MA. CECILIA D. [email protected]

John B Lacson Maritime UniversityMolo, Iloilo City, Philippines

Abstract - The Guimaras oil spill was a massive oil spill at the Guimaras Strait, the Philippines. It was dubbed as the worst oil spill ever in the Philippines. The oil tanker M/T Solar 1, carrying more than two million liters of bunker fuel, sank on August 11, 2006 at the Guimaras Strait off the coast of the Guimaras and Negros Occidental provinces, causing some 500,000 liters of oil to pour into the strait. It has been said that the recent oil spill has adversely affected marine sanctuaries and mangrove reserves in three out of five municipalities in Guimaras Island and reached the shores of Iloilo and Negros Occidental. The oil spill occurred in the Visayas Sea which is considered a rich fishing ground that supplies most of the fisheries demand for the entire country. This study was therefore conducted to determine what life is among the Guimaras fisher folks after the oil spill in 2006. Interviews were conducted to generate the data needed in this investigation. Results showed that life was not the same before and after the oil spill. Fish catch and sea shells became few and children are now afraid to bathe in the waters for fear of the oil spills effects. Development of milkfish fish cage, handicrafts, and food preservation were top most livelihood activities resorted to by the fisher folks after the oil spill. Budget inclusion, research and other trainings were part of the LGU

IAMURE: International Journal of Marine Ecology

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and International interventions that were done after the oil spill.

Keywords - Ecology, oil spill, interview method, document analysis, Guimaras, Philippines

INTRODUCTION

Haribon sent its two biologists to Guimaras to rapidly assess the damage and talk to the affected communities regarding their immediate needs. Definitely Haribon provided assistance to the area particularly for the long-term rehabilitation of the area. Finally, the government has evacuated the affected families who have already been exposed to the toxic elements of the crude oil. According to reports gathered in the field, people have already contracted skin diseases.

The spill has damaged Taklong Island National Marine Reserve, a marine sanctuary for feeding and breeding ground for fish and other species. Dr. Jose Ingles, eco-region coordinator of the World Wide Fund for Nature in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, said that the damage may be felt by at least two generations. He warned that the disaster may have damaged the reefs and mangroves, scarring the ecosystem and causing seafood yields to significantly decrease. According to him, the worst hit would be the shorelines, the coasts and the swamplands with mangroves. This has great impact the livelihood of the fishermen, mostly living in poor conditions.

The oil slick also poses as a threat to the blue crab industry of Enrique B. Magalona, Negros Occidental. In the south-southeast of the spill site is located the Sulu Sea, a deep water area frequented by commercially valued fishes. The towns of southern Negros Occidental province pride themselves as the home of the Blue Marlin and the Yellow Fin Tuna. This is an important source of income for the communities. When the slick is not effectively contained, this will surely damage this thriving local industry.

The Philippine Coast Guard says that the spill has affected 20 communities in 4 municipalities in Guimaras as of August 22, 2006. It also threatens 27 communities in Iloilo province and 17 others in Negros Occidental. A villager from Barangay Lapaz, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras became the first casualty directly affected by the spill. He


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died after inhaling the fumes of the oil sludge causing him to contract cardio-respiratory disease. Two workers from the ship have also been reported missing.

What is life then after the oil spill? This study was conceived to find out what life is at the area after that oil spill.

FRAMEWORK

An oil spill which occurs near a coastline will always impact more living organisms then one which occurs in the open ocean. This is simply because coastal areas are home to much more concentrated and diversified populations of marine life than the open ocean. Nevertheless, all oil spills have an impact on marine organisms, and oil from open ocean spills can end up contaminating beaches hundreds of miles away. Oil spills can harm marine life in three different ways, by poisoning after ingestion, by direct contact and by destroying habitats.

Oil spills into rivers, bays, and the ocean are caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, and storage facilities, usually while the oil is being transported to us, its users. During oil spills many things are affected, one of the major things being animals and birds in the sea, fish, shrimp, and crabs, penguins and other water birds, sea otters, sea lions, seals, and killer whales. The oil gets into their bodies and they die of suffocation. All these creatures swallow the oil and also breathe in the poisonous fumes. Their bodies become coated with oil and thousands of these die in no time (Environment and Nature, 2010).

In this same source, it states that spills can be caused by the following: 1) people making mistakes or being careless. 2) equipment breaking down. 3) natural disasters such as hurricanes. 4) deliberate acts by terrorists, countries at war, vandals, or illegal dumpers.

Oil spills can also bring about adverse effects. Oil floats on salt water (the ocean) and usually floats on fresh water (rivers and lakes). Very heavy oil can sometimes sink in fresh water, but this happens very rarely. Oil usually spreads out rapidly across the water surface to form a thin layer that we call an oil slick. As the spreading process continues, the layer becomes thinner and thinner, finally becoming a very thin layer called a sheen, which often looks like a rainbow. Depending


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on the circumstances, oil spills can be very harmful to marine birds and mammals, and also can harm fish and shellfish. Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water-repelling abilities of a birds feathers, thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. Many birds and animals also ingest (swallow) oil when they try to clean themselves, which can poison them. Depending on just where and when a spill happens, from just a few up to hundreds or thousands of birds and mammals can be killed or injured.

The negative effects of ingesting toxic levels of oil are poorly understood for many specific organisms, especially micro-organisms such as plankton, bottom dwelling organisms and larval fish. The effects on larger creatures such as fish and marine mammals are much more fully documented. Fish ingest large amounts of oil through their gills. If this does not kill them directly, it can inhibit their ability to reproduce or result in offspring which are deformed. Especially vulnerable are slow moving shellfish such as clams, oysters and mussels. These creatures cant escape from an oil slick.

Because oil and oil products in the environment can cause harm, this problem can be prevented. For example, by avoiding dumping oil or oily waste into the sewer or garbage, polluting in the environment can be avoided.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

This study determined what life is among the Guimaras fisher folks after the oil spill in 2006.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Research Design

The descriptive method of research was employed in this investigation. According to Good and Scates (2001), descriptive research involves collecting of data to test hypothesis or answer questions concerning the life of fisher folks after the oil spill.

Descriptive research according to Evans (2009) is concerned with


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the description of the existing distribution of variables, as opposed to theory building.

The Research Environment Guimaras ([gimaras]) is an island province of the Philippines

located in the Western Visayas region. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The island is located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros. To the northwest is the province of Iloilo and to the southeast is Negros Occidental.

The province includes the islands of Guimaras and Inampulugan and many smaller islands.Guimaras was a sub-province of Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 22, 1992.

People and culture

The people of Guimaras are considered as Guimarasnon and their languages are Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a as it was once a sub-province of Iloilo. Hiligaynon is the major language spoken, although the people can understand and speak Tagalog and English.

Geography

Located southwest of Panay, Guimaras is separated physically from Iloilo by a narrow channel, which takes about fifteen minutes to cross by pumpboat from the Ortiz landing on Iloilo to Jordan. There are two other ways to get there, the Parola wharf in Iloilo to the municipality of Buenavista. The Parola wharf is used exclusively whenever the water is rough. There also is a roll on roll off (RORO) ferry that travels around five times a day and is used by the Iloilo bicycle clubs on Sunday to travel to Guimaras. Geologists opine that the island formed one landmass with Panay in the past. Guimaras was formerly known as Himal-us.

Guimaras is also famous for its beaches. Clear blue waters, white sand and marine life rivals that of Boracay. Commonly visited ones are at Roca Encantada, Alubihod and Puerto del Mar.


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Two DOH toxicologists have been sent to Guimaras to look into the possibility of relocating some coastal residents away from the shore. Duque has warned that resident's exposure to the oil could lead to illnesses and advised them not to eat any marine products taken from the polluted waters. Residents have been forced to use improvised spill booms, made of bamboo and dried grass to try to prevent black sludge washing up onto beaches. They were also using buckets and shovels to scoop the sludge from the beaches.

Oil has contaminated more than 300 kilometers of coastline on Guimaras island and is now threatening Negros, the countrys fourth-largest island, as well as Panay Island. Oil has also destroyed 454 hectares of mangroves and 58 hectares of seaweed farms.

Guimaras: Where the Oil Spill was

The Research Respondents

Three key informants were utilized in this study. One was a legislator, one lawyer spearheading the livelihood project, and one project in charge.

The respondents were residents of Sto. Domingo, Guimaras.

The Research Instrument

The researchers made use of the interview instrument to generate


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data needed for this investigation. The interview served to answer the questions advanced in this study.

The researchers also resorted to document analysis, specifically the local newspapers and online sources to substantiate the data derived from the interview.

Data Analysis Procedure

The responses were transcribed, and were interpreted using the categorization method. Site observation was also done to gather pictures on the different livelihood projects that were done after the oil spill. No inferential statistical treatment was used in this paper.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Life After the Oil Spill

Based on the interview and document analysis, the following were the interviewees descriptions of the after effect of the oil spill in Guimaras. Figure 2 has the data.

Figure 2. Life after the oil spill


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Documents likewise show that life after the oil spill has lessened opportunities for life. The following documents proved the ill effects brought about by the oil spill. Figure 3 shows how the local newspapers unfold that:

Figure 3. Documents on life after the oil spill

Source of Livelihood Resorted to by Fisher Folks after the Oil Spill

It has been an accepted fact that the recent oil spill has adversely affected marine sanctuaries and mangrove reserves in three out of five municipalities in Guimaras Island and reached the shores of Iloilo and Negros Occidental. The oil spill occurred in the Visayas Sea which is considered a rich fishing ground that supplies most of the fisheries demand for the entire country (NDCC, August 2006).

In this premise, Haribon sent its two biologists to Guimaras to rapidly assess the damage and talk to the affected communities regarding their immediate needs. Definitely Haribon was providing assistance to the area particularly for the long-term rehabilitation of the area. The government has evacuated the affected families who have already been exposed to the toxic elements of the crude oil. According to reports gathered in the field, people have already contracted skin diseases.


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The second question addressed source of livelihood resorted to by fisher folks after the oil spill. Based on the interviewees, the following measures were done to provide livelihood resorted after the oil spill.Figure 4 shows the interview responses.

Figure 4. Interview responses on the livelihood provided

Aside from those mentioned, documents on the next figure revealed the livelihood for the fisher folks. In one of the visits in Iloilo City, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said the national government would only release funds on a case-to-case basis after the oil spill. Andaya said they are not in a hurry to release any fund without any purpose. The fund should be spent only for rehabilitation purposes and not for anything else. There are proposals from different national government agencies that were disapproved because of its non-relevance.He further stressed that the fund should not be spent for projects such as road construction which is not in any way related to the rehabilitation of the island as an aftermath of the August 11, 2006 oil spill. The project proponent should give exact and convincing reasons why they should be given funds.One of those projects that were disapproved by the government is the food for work of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office. There is no need for the government to give


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allocation to the food for work program since the affected residents already returned to their normal lives (Calubiran, 2008). Figure 5 has the data.

Figure 5. Documents on the livelihood provided

Interventions Instituted by Government or Non-Government Organizations after the Oil Spill

Interview results showed that the scars left behind by the incident continue to haunt the fisher folks there, the thought of what they had experienced, and the fear of experiencing it again. One victim said that they will never forget what happened in their place. It has taught them a lot of valuable lessons in life. It has taught them how to value their family as well as about nature.

One fisher folk even said that theyre like fish out of water. That is why, they pin their hope on some local government and non-government units to help them with their coping especially the effects that the oil spill has brought. Based on the interview, some interventions that were conducted are shown in Figure 6.


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Figure 6. Interventions that were conducted for the fisher folks

Documents further revealed that the local government units also did share in the recovery of the province of Guimaras. Figure 7 contains the documents.

Figure 7. Interventions on the part of the local government units


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CONCLUSIONS

The Oil Spill has provided an opportunity to demonstrate the peoples community spirit and resilience in times of calamity, and a strong determination to pick up the pieces and continue on their quest for collective growth as a people.

Government and non-government units have the responsibility to sustain the livelihood and provide the same to their constituents. Intervention in the form of financial and non-financial forms must be sustained to ensure that the fisher folks are helped and not exploited/manipulated by some politicians and other private organizations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A periodic evaluation of the oil spill effects in the area must be done by authorities concerned. Livelihood must be sustained to uplift the living conditions of the oil spill victims. More studies must be conducted to further investigate on the after effects of oil spill.

LITERATURE CITED

BBC NEWS2006 Oil spill threatens Philippines.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/

asia-pacific/4795649.stm.

Calubiran, M.2008 Guimaras chief hopes to receive additional oil spill fund. The

News Today.

Environment and Nature 2010 Chennai Interactive Business Services (P) Ltd.

Good, C.V. and D. Scates2001 Methods of Research, (New York: Appleton Century Crofts, pp.

557.

Governor says no to oil sludge disposal in Guimaras. Sun.Star Bacolod. 2006-08-23. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/


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bac/2006/08/23/news/governor.says.no.to.oil.sludge.disposal.in.guimaras.html.

INQ7.net2006 Arroyo forms task force to oversee oil spill cleanup. http://

newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=16764

INQ7.net 2006 British experts to help with oil spill clean-up.http://

globalnation.inq7.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=15982.

INQ7.net 2006 Sensitive habitats can be smothered by oil.24.http://newsinfo.

inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=16966.

INQ7.net2006 RP sends SOS on oil spill US, Japan, Indonesia help sought.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=16179.

PhilStar 2006 Arroyo vows to get to bottom of oil spill.http://www.

philstar.com/philstar/NEWS_FLASH082620061737_12.htm. Sun.Star Bacolod 2006 Slick to ruin blue crabs habitat in EB Magalona. http://www.

sunstar.com.ph/static/bac/2006/08/23/news/slick.to.ruin.blue.crabs.habitat.in.eb.magalona.html.

YahooNews 2006 British experts to help with oil spill clean-up.

h t t p : / / n e w s . y a h o o . c o m / s / a f p / 2 0 0 6 0 8 1 8 / s c _ a f p /philippinesenvironmentashippingoil_060818061700.

Guimaras Oil Spill

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Transcript of Guimaras Oil Spill