July 4, 2007 Editorial of The Bohol ChronicleTactically, Nor-Asian Energy Ltd. who wanted to do an oil seismic survey along Bohol Straits, may have won Round Two.
Wearing an Honest Abe's face and feigning lending its ears to the protesting stakeholders in the environmentally-threatening exercise (seismic survey), and behaving exactly like many traditional politicians - the consortium promised the angry crowd that it won't do the survey in the Bohol Flank until all issues are addressed.
Governor Erico Aumentado and 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto assured they will stop the seismic survey otherwise, as well.
But quick to the draw and an expert in double talk it seems, Nor-Asian M/V Pacific Sword and their support ships M/V Eagle, M/V C. Venture and M/V Southern Cross, started the seismic survey anyway last Thursday.
Many fisher folks were not satisfied with the P111 compensation package and the Technical Working Group (TWG) had asked for postponement of the survey while they researched on vital data to protect the environment - the sea that provides livelihood to the fishermen and the tourism industry that brings in dollars.
Tagbilaran City, environmentalists and people organizations opposed the survey and sought a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) because that was the only "legal" way to stop a "done deal" agreement in Manila - apparently sanctioned by the Government through the Department of Energy and the passive agreement of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.
That was tactically the proper thing to do.
Judge Fernando Fuentes, even knowing the urgency of the matter since the Cebu Flank was already undergoing the seismic survey, instead had the case raffled which caused the oppositors to lose four days.
The wily schemers in that side of Judas' Court took the advantage and then added another legal technical block by saying they were not informed of the raffle draw and moved for the TRO request's dismissal.
And even if the Environmental Alliance do get a TRO sometime late this week, by week-end the calculating Nor-Asian shall have been almost "complete" with its seismic survey, perhaps by Sunday this week.
The greatest disappointment of the Petitioners laid on the doors of the Public Officials who Conservation Watch officer Jun Estrosas said are only good in "press releases" but behave like Invisible Men when the going gets rough.
Even when the TWG asked for the survey postponement last Saturday night, the Governor departed for another more important matter and left the discussion to Congressman Chatto, Chair of last Congress' Committee on Tourism. Chatto reportedly flew to Manila yesterday to meet with DOE officials.
One wonders how that can stop the ongoing seismic oil survey raging near Cabilao Island in Loon.
This exasperating "betrayal of trust" on the stakeholders in this episode made many observers lament that this convening of varied interests was merely for political mileage propaganda while the consortium plotted devious ways to go on with the survey anyway. A veritable moro-moro?
Meantime, stranded deep sea fishes and uncommon marine life were washed ashore in some areas; definite lowering of catch of fisher folks noted and a celebrity diver Holger Horn documented via underwater camera how the "biodiversity" of some Bohol waters has been reduced since the seismic surveys started.
Dumaguete City-based geologist Angel Alcala categorically stated in a newspaper article (not the Chronicle) that the oil seismic survey done with a series of volley guns underwater (of over 200 decibels) sounds like volcanic eruptions. This is because under the sea the pressure is stronger and amplifies greatly auditory disturbances that can make "humans and fish" significantly deaf because of it.
History and seismology-geology professor Jess Tirol (columnist) theorized there is probably "no oil of commercial value" in the spots surveyed.
So what was this exercise that damaged the sea habitat and prejudiced commerce and trade in the area for?
More than that, the bigger moral question is - during the elections their votes were needed and courted - now are the people's voices seem to be no longer important to public officials today?
Are public consultations on public affairs today really just consuelo de bobos but the deals are really sealed behind the people's backs?
Look at the proposed Albur landfill project. Before an Environmental Certificate of Clearance (ECC) is issued by the DENR and the people of Albur were extensively and democratically assessed - the roads leading to the landfill area are allegedly finished already.
Another "done deal" and then more "press releases" in the offing on this one?
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=2359.0
