MikeLigalig.com

By Joe Espiritu
Jagna-based Writer/Columnist

This week, the seismic exploration for suspected oil deposits started on the Cebu side of the Cebu - Bohol strait. The seas within the jurisdiction of Bohol were left out until Bohol Alliance of Non Government Organizations or Bangon withdraws their objection to the oil exploration. Their reason could be environmental concerns. Whether their reasons are valid or self-serving, that depends on how one looks at it.

Oil consortiums had commissioned NorAsian Energy Ltd. to conduct a survey in the seas between Argao, Cebu and the island of Cabilao in Bohol. A preliminary survey could have determined that some 22 million barrels of recoverable oil and indeterminate volume of natural gas is expected to be found. To confirm the initial findings, a seismic survey of these waters is to be conducted.

As we had written in our previous column, seismic exploration is made to determine the presence of oil traps beneath the seabed. Holes are drilled some meters below the land surface beneath the sea and exploded. The echoes reflected to an electronic listening device determine the existence of domes, anticlines and other areas where oil are trapped.

At present, protests of environmentalist could be valid. Underwater explosions would kill fish. Explosions of the oil survey is not so devastating as those in dynamite fishing since most of the blast is absorbed by the land mass beneath the sea. Neither the less it is destructive. However, a seismic survey is conducted only once in a given area. Exploratory wells are to be drilled on those sites considered promising to determine the actual presence and volume of the reserves.

There may be loss of income of the fishermen affected. However, such income could not be accurately quantified. Fishing is a tricky affair. If one depends upon that industry for a living, he will surely starve. Fish do not bite all the time in any one place. Blue water fishes are pelagic and migratory. They speed away from the vicinity at the least sign of disturbance. Only the predatory species would investigate a strange activity in the high seas and most are not food fishes.

Shallow water fishes are dimersal and territorial. They hide in holes and reef crevices at the sign of danger and those are the most affected marine life in the survey. Unless the blasting survey is conducted in shallow waters, very few fishes are affected. This should be the concern of the so-called environmentalists.

Survey of shallow waters may be limited or other devices may be used if there are any.

There must be promising prospects for the exploration since the oil companies are willing to spend so a survey could be made. Oil exploration is costly. On a mere assurance of a commercial find, they will spend. Many prospectors had drilled dry holes while a few struck it rich. The Province of Cebu gambled on the possibility that oil could be found in those seas. Should the exploration fail to locate a commercial deposit, they stand to lose a few hundreds of square meters in underwater devastation. However, in time, nature would heal herself.

It seems as if there are no environmental organizations in Cebu. They had not put up any objection. If there were, they must have understood the need for the oil exploration. Perhaps they know that risks have to be taken for the sake of progress. As for us, it is as if we are waiting for the Cebuanos to fall flat on their faces. Of course, we would not like to be influenced by what the Cebuanos are doing. However, if the survey will show promise and the oil horizon extends up to Bohol waters, what then? Is it not that we would be coddling a few fishermen against interests the more than 1,138,000 Boholanos who stand to profit from such discovery? Perhaps it is time for us to rethink our position.

Bohol Sunday Post - 6/24/2007

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=1815.0

Way pagmahay nga mag-una. Anha na managang kung naigo na?

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=1815.0

Dear Mike,

Abi nako ug si Joe miembro ani. Imo ra diay tong gi relay....sorry...nag dali man guy ko....

Nakahigayon ko ron kay naay break....

So, further the komentaryo ni higalang Joe Espiritu, kining 85.8 million pesos per year nga atong ma benefit ani nga project, kung aton kining bahin-bahinon sa 1,138,000 nga Boholanos, tag 75.4 pesos ra kada usa kanato.... hehehe....

Ato na lang ning i-korambos.... ipalit usa ka bowl nga Tuba.... unya dayb dayon sa mabugnawng Kainggit Beach....hehehe...

Tuod mike, naa koy mga pictures of Bohol taken by world renowned photographers. Tudlo-i ko bi kung unsaon pag attach, kay akong gi sulayan ug attach, script man ang mo gawas ug walay picture... Thanks....

Needs some tips from the expert.....

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=1815.0

good suggestion, GEC!

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=1815.0