Colloquium on M/T Solar 1 Oil Spill Stresses UPV's Critical Role

• [2006-10-05]
  Colloquium on M/T Solar 1 Oil Spill Stresses UPV's Critical Role


• [2006-09-29]
  Medical care for oil spill victims continue


• [2006-09-15]
  UPV Relief Action Team spills off to Guimaras


• [2006-08-30]
  UPV scientists and volunteers work on oil spill effects at National Marine Reserve


• [2006-10-13]
  "Compensation from oil spills" forum held at UPV

PV has been at the forefront in the clean-up efforts, in providing assistance and facilitating relief efforts, conducting medical missions and initial assessment of the incident, says Chancellor Glenn D. Aguilar during a colloquium on the M/T Solar I oil spill, held at the UP Visayas, Iloilo City campus on 18 September 2006.

Today marks a significant event in the history of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas...as we are gathered here to be informed, to discuss and to formulate our response to the greatest environmental disaster in the country and the longest threat to the people affected, the Chancellor emphasized at the start of the gathering.

In a PowerPoint format, Dr. Aguilar capsulized facts related to the M/T Solar 1 Oil Spill, presented an initial assessment of the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve, and outlined some immediate and long-term research and monitoring plan.

It is now common knowledge that the M/T Solar 1 tanker carrying 2M liters of bunker fuel sank south of Guimaras on August 11, 2006. It is seven times more in volume than that of the Semirara oil spill which was 220,000 liters. More households have been affected (17.8 times), 3,198 compared to 184 as of August 24, 2006. The spill covered a wider area; namely, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros. The hardest hit is Taklong Island, a declared National Marine Reserve, where the UPV Marine Biological Station is located.

Soon after the event, the group that extended technical assistance to the oil spill in Semirara, Antique was reactivated and new members were added. A very rapid assessment of Taklong Island was immediately conducted on August 13-27. The group was expanded into a Task Force bearing UPV's full commitment.

Within two weeks of the incident, an initial clean up was done in Taklong Island by volunteer ROTC cadets and NSTP students. UPV received donations and organized medical missions to the affected areas. It has coordinated with various agencies to strategically plan and propose how to best continue helping the victims. What's more, UPV readily responded to Guimaras Governor JC Rahman Nava's request for assistance and is now part of the Province Assessment Teams. The socio-economic assessment will start in the first week of October.

In the same forum, some problem areas were identified. These are: the preparedness and response capabilities of the national government and LGU resources, oil containment and recovery, clean-up methods and techniques, and protective strategies.

Other things to consider are the alternative or supplementary livelihoods of the affected residents especially the fishermen, disposal of oil and debris, rehabilitation of the affected areas such as the mangroves, physico-chemical problems in water and sediment, physico-chemical characteristics of bunker fuel and dispersants, biological/microbiological issues of various coastal and marine habitats, database management and simulation studies.

The Chancellor added that the immediate scientific assessment needed are on the following:

• Accurate spatial analysis such as the extent of spill, the exact amount (to include calculations, modeling, GIS-remote sensing and ground truthing)
• Fisheries (catch, food safety and toxicity, recruitment, fisheries management)
• Habitats (flora and fauna impacts), plankton, ecotoxicity
• Health, socio-economic effects and valuation
• Sustainable livelihood planning

The long-term effects of the oil spill should cover these areas:

• Effects on habitats (Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Seagrasses)
• Effects on fisheries
• Physico-chemical characteristics of organisms and the environment
• Effects on people
• Effects on important organisms
• Models useful for future incidents
• Remediation of beaches and rocky shores
• Sustainable livelihood approaches
• Treatment of unremovable oil
• Spatial analysis and response to future incidents
• Management and policy regimes

What will all these mean to the folks affected by the oil spill. How will it redound to the fisherman whose lives were rudely disrupted and whose livelihood has been wiped out?

The studies to determine the effect of the oil spill in Guimaras, especially on protected areas, will benefit the fishermen as food safety results will reassure consumers. The basic oceanographic, biological and physico-chemical researches will make response more effective to future incidents and the proper documentation and analysis of direct, non-direct and non-use values will make claims more realistic.

Before Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension, Dr. Ma. Luisa Mabunay, issued the call for research proposals, Chancellor Aguilar posed this challenge to the UPV faculty and researchers:

As a member of Task Force Guimaras and being chosen to lead the Science Advisory Group, UPV is in a situation where performance and service to the nation is greatly needed. ...we are placed in a position of critical importance and I rely on you, the faculty and researchers to respond to the best of our abilities to this challenge.

Source: Lyncen M. Fernandez; UPV-IPO