OUR MANIFESTO

hi,

you may use this manifesto to gather support for our campaign against the destructive off-shore mining operation of Japan Petroleum Exploration Inc. in Tanon Strait.

Thank you.

MANIFESTO

WE are stakeholders conscious of our great responsibility to protect and conserve our natural resources, as stewards of the present and future generations, amidst the daunting challenge of climate change which threaten the survival of humankind and non-humans in this planet.

WE vehemently oppose the ecologically destructive and high carbon emitting oil drilling now conducted at the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape by JAPEX and the Department of Energy (the “Project”). It has no place in a protected seascape and in an era where countries all over the world are desperately looking for renewable sources of energy to reduce the effects of global warming.

WE condemn the process by which the otherwise dormant Tanon Strait Protected Seascape Management Board suddenly sprung into action and gave its authorization to the Project, without studying the actual state of Tanon Strait and the scientific evidence gathered by respected authorities on biodiversity. The entire process was undertaken bereft of transparency and cloaked with secrecy, lacked public participation and deprived the key stakeholders - such as the marginal fisherfolks, the people’s organizations and non-government organizations and even the scientists and the experts - of their constitutionally guaranteed right to be involved at all levels of decision-making process, especially in an environmentally critical area like Tanon Strait.

We fully support the stand of the 170 marine scientists in the country who called for the cancellation of the Project, since it destroys the marine ecosystem, deprives the marginal fisherfolks of their livelihood and threatens food security, Tanon Strait being one of the richest fishing grounds of the country.

This JAPEX Project is a blatant disregard of the provisions of the Constitution and its implementing laws such as the Fisheries Code which reiterates the state policy that fisherfolks have the preferential use of municipal waters. It mocks the integrity of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (for which funds and grants have poured in from multilateral institutions and foreign countries), and reveals our political leaders’ lack of commitment and sense of responsibility before the international community as a Contracting State in international conventions such as the Conventions on Climate Change, Biological Diversity, Agenda 21, Millennium Development Summit, and respect for international law principles.

WE should never forget that the State, under the 1987 Constitution, guaranteed the protection of “the rights of subsistence fishermen, especially of local communities, to the preferential use of the communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore.” Now, ironically, the poor fisherfolks are suddenly displaced from their State-protected fishing grounds by the government agencies who are supposed to protect them and the environment!

Even our Medium Term Development Plan acknowledges that our coastal and marine ecosystem are highly degraded and we are considered a hotspot country in biodersity loss. An oil drilling at Tanon Strait Protected Seascape would only prove that we do not learn the lessons from our mistakes.

This nation is done with EMPTY RHETORICS and the whims and caprices of a few who might have been denied the benefit of wise counsel in understanding that the State-declared policies and principles and our laws are supreme, irrespective of who the holders of the public position might be.

Food security, biodiversity, resource conservation, a healthful and balanced ecology and human rights are not and will never be negotiable.

THE RULE OF LAW MUST PREVAIL IN THIS LAND. INSTEAD OF DISPLACING OUR FISHERFOLKS, AND DESTROYING OUR ECOSYSTEM, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS MUST INSTEAD EXHIBIT THE MUCH-NEEDED WILL TO ENFORCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS.

LET US WALK THE TALK. THE SENSELESS OIL DRILLING AT TANON STRAIT MUST STOP!

JAPEX ECC - COLLUSION AND DECEPTION

October 9 Press Statement of Alliance of Fisherfolk Against Off-Shore Mining, Defend our Sea Coalition, PAMANA Sugbo, Nagkahiusang Mannagat sa Tajao, Justice and Peace Center Silliman University, and FIDEC Inc.

COLLUSION AND DECEPTION

We are not surprise why the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR under Mr. Arranguez, despite repeated request, refused to give a copy to the public the basis why the Environmental Compliance Certificate was awarded to Japan Petroleum Exploration Inc.

We are not surprise at all why the EMB is shielding JAPEX from valid questioning and despite hard scientific evidences and first-hand data, went on pursuing various destructive projects in the waters around Central Visayas.

The EMB, DOE, and JAPEX stood as doting parents in the destructive seismic activities as a prelude to an even more destructive off-shore mining in the protected seascape of Tañon Strait.

After months of assuming the role of investigators and detectives we found a document – unfortunately for us; the fisherfolks, environmental advocates, and taxpayers – we found the Initial Environmental Evaluation was used to justify the released of the ECC to Japex instead of the more thorough and comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and Statement.

We reviewed, evaluated, and weighed the IEE but found it wanting.

Despite scientific consensus – the proponent and their cohorts in the government will pursue drilling activities in the coming months, effectively dislocating thousands of fisherfolks, destroying our marine resources dubbed as the epicenter of global marine biodiversity, and affecting our food security.

We echo the points raised by the 1992 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Public Service and the present University Research Professor and Director of the Silliman University, Dr. Angel Alcala that the “IEE document wanting in the critical survey data and information needed for determining the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the proposed operation of JAPEX”

Enough of this utter Collusion and Deception, we give this marching order to various fisherfolk organizations in the region to conduct massive information campaign that will lead to mobilizing their sectors and other stakeholders as well against this project and other off-shore mining projects in the Visayas.

On the other hand we call on our national political figures to make a stand against these destructive and make urgent the house resolution calling for an investigation over off-shore mining in the Visayas. We urged them to stand against JPEPA as well, since JPEPA will serve as the backbone of the aggression of JAPEX in our waters.

We call on the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) to withdraw its fund-support to JAPEX operation in the Philippines- your money will only increase poverty and environmental destruction in the region.

Enough of destruction and imperialist plunder. Ban Japex in Tañon Strait. Pursue Sustainable energy and use of our resources now.

Struggle for Genuine National Industrialization.

The Tañon Strait Oil and Gas Project

The Tañon Strait Oil and Gas Project

Dr. Angel C. Alcala

Sometime ago this year, an assistant secretary of the Department of Energy and a Japanese official of the Japan Petroleum Exploration co., Ltd. (JAPEX) came to see me in my office at the SU Angelo King Center for Research & Environmental Management to explain this project.

From that meeting, I gathered that this gas exploration project is planned to be carried out in the Tañon Strait off Aloguinsan and Pinamungajan, Cebu.

The direct impact area has a radius of 1.5 kms and the secondary impact area has a radius of five kms. The project will use a floater rig.

The project plans to drill this year a well 3,000 meters below the sea surface. Drill cuttings will not be discharged to the immediate area but will be collected and dumped into the sea elsewhere, I was told.

Because the project is exploratory, the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is not necessary according to the DENR, and only an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is needed. A copy of this IEE was given to me for our review.

In this IEE, a list of five groups of data is presented in a table. Another table listed eight names that composed the EIA Study Team, some of them I know personally. It is assumed that the report of this team is the basis for the environmental and resource information discussed in the IEE. This information was reviewed by our team of marine biologists at SUAKCREM, which is the subject of today’s column.

Our review concluded that the environmental and resource survey was extremely rapid, lacking in critical data essential for valid and meaningful comparisons in order to determine the impacts of the exploratory drilling. The following discussion gives the details:

1. The baseline data (DENR 7 PCRA) are too old and not suitable for the project. PCRA data are meant for use by stakeholder communities, and not suitable for the project, and a more detailed technical methodology was not presented. This is needed for an environmentally sensitive project such as this one. A more detailed technical assessment of marine habitats is required. The methodology has to be properly documented (examples, how many transects were surveyed by what procedures, density of fishes and other marine organisms per unit area, total number of target species, of indicator species, etc.)

Fish densities presented were too low – 2,000 fish individuals per square kilometer; we have found 2,000 individuals per 500 square meters around Cebu and Negros; something wrong here!

To put it bluntly, the methodology employed, and consequently, the data gathered, do not meet acceptable standards, cannot be used as baselines for future monitoring of drilling effects, and therefore, not acceptable.

2. Of prime importance is the construction of a fisheries profile. For this, the IEE document should be clear on how the data are gathered so they can be verified for credibility in any future inquiry.

3. On fish data composition (p.39, Chap. 5), technical data and graphs with units need to be presented so they can be compared to other existing data within the whole country.

4. On catch composition per gear type, the data presented are old (2001). If the catch was this bad back in 2001, it is expected to be worse now. A proper catch per unit effort spans at least one year, and not done instantly. A detailed methodology was not presented in the study.

5. Substrate types were not determined, and major coral growth forms were not reported including those most vulnerable to pollution such as sedimentation. Susceptibility of vulnerability indices of sites was not assessed.

6. The disposal of drill cuttings presents a problem. One area identified is the Sulu Sea. But the Sulu Sea is a prime fishing area and has high biodiversity! Dumping cuttings into this sea unnecessarily creates additional problems.

In brief, we found the IEE document wanting in the critical survey data and information needed for determining the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the proposed drilling operation of JAPEX.

RECALL JAPEX ECC. STOP THE PLUNDER OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

Fisherfolk leaders with DOE director Engr. Labios

At the Environment Management Bureau Office with the local Media



At the office of Provincial Board Member Victo r Maambong

Below is the letter calling for a moratorium and investigation over off-shore mining in the Visayas given to the Provincial Government and the Department of Energy.

Another letter calling for the recall of JAPEX' Environmental Compliance Certificate was given to the office of the Environment Management Bureau. Currently the Provincial Vice-Governor of Cebu, the Congress, including the Philippine Senate passed resolutions calling for various actions against off-shore mining.

For a copy of the House Resolution regarding off-shore mining, please email us.

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August 15, 2007

Atty. Victor Maambong

Provincial Board Member

Chairperson

Committee on the Environment

CALL FOR A MORATORIUM ON ALL PLANNED AND EXISTING OIL EXPLORATIONS IN THE VISAYAS

Dear Hon. Maambong,

Greetings.

The Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc, and various organizations under DEFEND our Sea Coalition and Conservation Watch, manifests its concern on the plight of the marginal fisherfolks whose livelihood were affected by oil explorations in fact majority of Fishermen in the Visayas were not justly compensated when JAPEX and NorAsian Energy Ltd implemented their seismic survey. We would like to extend the same concern to our local marine environment deemed as one of the global centers in marine biodiversity when oil explorations and off-shore mining will commence.

According to the paper presented by DOE USEC Guillermo Balce, another 23 Service Contracts will be awarded to various corporations to conduct oil exploration activity in our waters another service contract was awarded to Forum North Cebu to conduct exploration activity, it is interesting to note that this activity will be inside made inside the Visayas Sea considered as a unique world treasure and recognized as a national heritage area.

Based on international scientific papers, seismic survey and off-shore mining will pollute our waters since Oil and Gas drilling operations generate huge amounts of waste that is discarded into water. According to the National Academy of Sciences, a single well produces between 1500 and 2000 TONS of waste material.

Debris includes drill cuttings, which is rock ground into pieces by the bit; and drilling mud brought up during the drilling process contains toxic metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Other pollutants, such as benzene, arsenic, zinc and other known carcinogens and radioactive materials are routinely released in “produced water,” which emerges when water is brought up from a well along with the oil or gas.

Offshore drilling will cause a significant amount of air pollution. Each offshore oil platform generates approximately 214,000 pounds of air pollutants each year(National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration). An average exploration well for oil or natural gasgenerates some 50 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 13 tons of carbon monoxide, 6 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 5 tons of volatile organic hydrocarbons7. These pollutants are the precursors to smog, acid rain and contribute to global warming.

These projects will also spill oil to our more than the volume that destroyed Guimaras.Oil is extremely toxic to a wide variety of marine species, and current clean up methods are incapable of removing more then a small fraction of the oil spilled in marine waters. Offshore drilling platforms and pipelines spilled 1.8 million gallons of oil in U.S. waters from 1990-1999 in 224 reported accidents – that’s an average of almost 500 gallons a day.

Oil spills present the potential for enormous harm to deep ocean and coastal fishing and

fisheries. Oil waste poisons the sensitive marine and coastal organic substrate, interrupting the

food chain on which fish and sea creatures depend, and on which their reproductive success is

based. Commercial fishing enterprises may be affected permanently. Wildlife other than fish and

sea creatures, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds that live in or near the body

of water, are also poisoned by oil waste.

The hazards for wildlife include toxic effects of exposure or ingestion, injuries such as smothering and deterioration of thermal insulation, and damage to their reproductive systems and behaviors. Long-term ecological effects that contaminate or destroy the marine organic substrate and thereby interrupt the food chain are also harmful to the wildlife, so species populations may change or disappear.

During the seismic survey of JAPEX and NorAsian, a significant reduction of fish catch were

recorded, it was later found out that heavy metals contamination from seismic survey will

result to reduction of fish reproduction.(Cadmium EbrahimTi, et al. 1995 Kime, et

l. 1996, Lead - Ruby, et al. 1993, Mercury - Khun & Weis. 1987, Methylmercury - Van Look,

K. Journal of Fish Biology. 2003.)

Seismic blasting damages planktonic eggs and larvae found in the immediate vicinity of airguns (Dalen and Knutsen, 1985)‏ and can reduce catches in commercial fisheries (Slotte et al. 2004; Soldal and Loekkeborg, 1993; Engas et al. 1996; Skalski et al. 1992) since the impact of the sound underwater tends to bursts air bladders (i.e. swim bladders for fish, lungs for marine mammals and the animals may have well sunk to the ocean floor from ruptured lungs. Andrea Leonor Bautista,manager, Cetacean Research and Conservation Project - WWF. (inq7.net. Thu, Sep 08, 2005)‏ Seismic blasting can damage the hearing structures, (McCauley et al. 2003)‏ and can cause body tissues to hemorrhage (hastings, 1995)‏ and damage reproductive organs in marine organisms (Jensen and Alberdice, 1989)‏

Seismic blasting can cause behavioral modifications and reduce or eliminate available habitat for

breeding / spawning, foraging and migration (Richardson et al. 1986; Harris et al. 2001;

McCauley et al. 2000; McCauley et al. 1998)‏ Seismic noises can alter fish distribution by tens of

kilometers (Slotte et al. 2004; Engas et al. 1996)‏ It can elicit physiological stress and

neural-immune responses in Marine organisms (Santulli et al. 1998; Romano et al. 2004)

‏

Despite the damages, despite the fisherfolks were denied access to their fishing grounds fisherfolks from various communities were not justly compensated or were not compensated at all.

With this we would like to ask the your committee to issue a moratorium on all oil exploration activities and bring together all the stakeholders in a public hearing to discuss the cost and benefit of oil explorations.

We must conduct exhaustive public consultations to discuss the issues and concerns on the conduct of the oil exploration. It is noted that the consultations are limited only to “information” dissemination which is far different from the nature of a consultation where people are given enough time to engage the proponents in a healthy dialogue. Two to three hours of meeting in each of the affected municipalities are not enough compliance of the consultation requirements as provided by law.

The Local Government Code provides:

SEC. 27. Prior Consultations Required. - No project or program shall be implemented by government authorities unless the consultations mentioned in Sections 2 (c) and 26 hereof are complied with, and prior approval of the sanggunian concerned is obtained: Provided, That occupants in areas where such projects are to be implemented shall not be evicted unless appropriate relocation sites have been provided, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

We are also calling on our Governor, Mayors, Sangguniang Bayan/Panlungsod, and our Congressional Representative to exercise their authority and influence to lobby with the national government to address our concerns before the actual conduct of the seismic survey.

FIDEC AND FISHERFOLK ORGANIZATIONS CALLS FOR MORATORIUM AND INVESTIGATION OVER OFF-SHORE MINING IN CENTRAL PHILIPPINES

FIDEC and various Fishermen's organization from Bohol, Argao, Dalaguete, and Pinamungajan Cebu conducted a press conference before the actual filing of legal cases against off-shore ming.

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT

RECALL JAPEX ECC. STOP THE PLUNDER OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.

STOP OFF-SHORE MINING IN THE VISAYAS AND THE PHILIPPINES.

It is more than a year since the oil spill tragedy in Guimaras disrupted the lives of Filipinos, It is more than a year and the culprits involved are roaming freely in Philippine waters raking profit after profit at the expense of Philippine interests.

It is more than a year and yet the government haven't learn important lessons by pursuing oil explorations in the Visayas and other parts of the Philippines. These explorations aside from violating our Constitution and Patrimony is very successful in dislocating fishermen, destroying marine biodiversity, disrupting economic activity and threatened local and global food security.

JAPEX after wreaking havoc in Tañon strait will pursue development of resources in the area this October. Despite violating the provisions of the EIA law, the Fisheries Code, the NIPAS Act, and the basic law of the land including international policies was able to secure an ECC last March 6, 2007.

The idea of energy independence flaunted by the national government and its agencies is a hoax, since the corporations involved in various oil exploration activities within Philippine waters were given the sole authority to identify, develop, and sell oil reserves from our waters.

It is quiet ironic for our country to pursue extracting finite fossil fuel deposits when the rest of the countries around us are abandoning its dependence on fossil fuel due to climate change and global warming and are now on the path of developing clean and sustainable sources of energy.

International conservation organizations, local government units,and various NGO's have spent billions of dollars protecting and sustainably developing our marine resources and yet our national government is doing the exact opposite.

Based on these there is a need to recall the questionable ECC given to JAPEX and we would like to enjoin IBP Cebu Chapter in their call to stop all planned oil explorations in the Visayas. We would like to call for a full investigation over these projects from the provincial, regional and congressional level. We also would like to call on environmental advocates, the fisherfolks, and other stakeholders to rise above the occasion and call to protect our natural resources and call for genuine national development free from foreign control and exploitation.

Let us put an end to resource plunder and environmental destruction. Let us stand up against oil exploration and off-shore mining.

-------------------

PAMANA Sugbo, DEFEND our Sea Coalition, PAMALAKAYA, Conservation Watch, Kinabuhi Inc People's Network for the Environment, FIDEC Inc.

Joint Statement of DEFEND our Sea Coalition and FIDEC Inc. on Offshore Mining in Central Visayas

DEFEND OUR SEA COALITION!
COALITION AGAINST OFF-SHORE MINING FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES

STOP ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION. STOP DISLOCATION OF FISHERFOLKS.
RESIST FOREIGN CONTROL OVER OUR RESOURCES.

The planned off-shore mining exploration in Cebu-Bohol Strait is not alarming. it is revolting.

DOE and other government agencies tasked at protecting the environment have become willing apologists, partners and lackeys of destructive foreign monopoly corporation.

Being partners, they became blind to the overwhelming effects of exploration in Tañon Strait. Being lackeys they ignored credible scientific data that exploration has resulted in fish kills, reduction of fish catch, destruction of fishing gears, destruction of fish aggregation devices, and other health related problems.

This project like the Tañon strait exploration lacks transparency, corporations and government agencies involved is hiding important details and particularities of the project from the public.

The claims of these agencies regarding energy independence is nothing but an attempt to make the poison more palatable and seeks to mislead the Visayans. Under the service contract, corporations were given sole authority to identify, develop, and distribute whatever fossil fuel deposits in the area.

As with Tañon Strait, a large part of the Cebu-Bohol Strait is protected, being one of the global center of marine biodiversity. The Cebu-Bohol strait like Tañon is a migratory path and breeding ground for species from other countries.

The exploration will not only affect the local economy and tourism of Cebu and Bohol it will have a great repercussion on food security in the Visayas, Philippines, and the world.

As experienced, JAPEX failed to compensate the owners of payao and other fish aggregating devices destroyed during the exploration in Tañon and no amount of assurance can allay our fears regarding the projects.

In the course of the Tañon exploration, the corporations and government agencies involved in the project failed to identify and implement alternative livelihood for affected communities.

It is reckless for DOE to dole-out certificate of non-coverage to NorAsian without the consent of local government authorities and the affected communities. It is equally condemnable for DENR and EMB for consenting and its failure to act against the obvious destruction of protected areas.

With this we demand that the project should be stopped at all cost. We cannot afford to trade the irreparable damage to our marine sources for a few million of pesos which will benefit the few corrupt officials in the government.

We call on various government agencies in the area to reiterate their strong stand against the project. We also urge various environmental advocates, organizations to stand against the destruction of our marine resources.

Instead of pursuing destructive projects, we urge the government to channel their efforts in sustainably developing the lives of the marginalized fisherfolks and pursuing the development of clean and renewable energy sources. Pursuing the development of Renewable energy sources can save RP with $ 2.3 Billion annually.

Based on WWF-Philippines' 10-year PowerSwitch scenario, the country should bring down dependence fossil fuel to 28 percent by 2012 from the current 61 percent.

STOP OFF-SHORE MINING.
JUNK MINING ACT OF 1995.
DEFEND THE PEOPLE. DEFEND THE SEAS.

DEFEND OUR SEA COALITION
CENTRAL VISAYAS FISHERFOLK DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC.
(032)256 1365
0905 2624123

Effects of Offshore Drilling

Overlooking Tañon Strait, a marine protected area under threat by Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex). Photo by Yowee Gonzales

• A single offshore rig emits the same quantity of air pollution as 7000 cars driving 50 miles per day.

• Routine offshore drilling operations dump thousands of pounds of "drilling muds" (containing heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, arsenic, and lead) into the Gulf of Mexico. The routine pollution can cause severe disruption to marine environments and health and reproductive problems for marine mammals and fish species.

• A single exploratory well dumps approximately 25,000 tons of toxic metals into the ocean.

• A single production platform can have between 50-100 wells and can discharge 90,000 metric tons of drilling fluids, wastes, and metal cuttings into the ocean. *The Gulf of Mexico has a roughly 3000 square mile "Dead Zone" that is growing. Offshore drilling pollution, by smothering benthic (shallow water) communities, contributes to oxygen depletion and adds to the Dead Zone.

• Offshore drilling releases "toxic brines" that are pockets of water that are trapped in the geologic pockets where gas and oil occur. This toxic brine contains NORMS (naturally occurring radioactive materials), cadmium, lead, benzene, etc. The petroleum industry admits that up to 1.5 million barrels of toxic brine are discharged into the Gulf every day.

• In 1982 a 9.6 million gallon spill occurred from a storage tank of coastal Panama. This caused massive damage to seagrass beds, corals, mangroves, and coastal ecosystems much like those occurring Florida. Much of the damage from that spill continued for years, and the lasting impacts are still seen today.

Effects of Seismic Survey to Marine Life, People and the Fisherfolk Sector

The Visayan Sea is home to diverse marine life which will be greatly affected by offshore mining. Photos by Yowee Gonzales

Effects of seismic survey to marine life: fish, invertebrates, marine turtles, marine mammals - whales, whale sharks, coral reefs , and others.

A seismic survey is conducted in a particular area to quantify the amount of deposited natural gases and minerals, like oil or petroleum.

1. Seismic blasting can damage the hearing structures, (McCauley et al. 2003)
2. Cause body tissues to hemorrhage (hastings, 1995)
3. And damage reproductive organs in marine organisms (Jensen and Alberdice, 1989)
4. Seismic blasting can cause behavioral modifications and reduce or eliminate available habitat for breeding / spawning, foraging and migration (Richardson et al. 1986; Harris et al. 2001; McCauley et al. 2000; McCauley et al. 1998)
5. Seismic noises can alter fish distribution by tens of kilometers (Slotte et al. 2004; Engas et al. 1996)
6. Seismic blasting can elicit physiological stress and neural-immune responses in Marine organisms (Santulli et al. 1998; Romano et al. 2004)
7. Seismic blasting damages planktonic eggs and larvae found in the immediate vicinity of airguns (Dalen and Knutsen, 1985)
8. Seismic blasting can reduce catches in commercial fisheries (Slotte et al. 2004; Soldal and Loekkeborg, 1993; Engas et al. 1996; Skalski et al. 1992
9. The impact of the sound underwater tends to bursts air bladders (i.e. swim bladders for fish, lungs for marine mammals and the animals may have well sunk to the ocean floor from ruptured lungs. Andrea Leonor Bautista,manager, Cetacean Research and Conservation Project - WWF. (inq7.net. Thu, Sep 08, 2005)

Air pollution: Offshore natural gas drilling causes a significant amount of air pollution. Each offshore oil platform generates approximately 214,000 pounds of air pollutants each year (National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration).

An average exploration well for oil or natural gasgenerates some 50 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 13 tons of carbon monoxide, 6 tons of sulfurdioxide, and 5 tons of volatile organic hydrocarbons7. These pollutants are the precursors to smog, acid
rain and contribute to global warming.

Water pollution: Oil and Gas drilling operations generate huge amounts of waste that is discarded intowater. According to the National Academy of Sciences, a single well produces between 1500 and 2000 TONS of waste material.

Debris includes drill cuttings, which is rock ground into pieces by the bit;and drilling mud brought up during the drilling process. This mud contains toxic metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Other pollutants, such as benzene, arsenic, zinc and other known carcinogens and radioactive materials are routinely released in “produced water,” which emerges when water is brought up from a well along with the oil or gas.

Oil Spills: Oil is extremely toxic to a wide variety of marine species, and current cleanup methods are incapable of removing more then a small fraction of the oil spilled in marine waters. Offshore drilling platforms and pipelines spilled 1.8 million gallons of oil in U.S. waters from 1990-1999 in 224 reported accidents – that’s an average of almost 500 gallons a day.

FIDEC Executive Director Vince Cinches in dialogue with local fisherfolk leaders in Tajao, Piamungajan, one of the affected areas along Tañon Strait. Photo by Yowee Gonzales

Unpaid gango and payao (fish pens) during the Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. Ltd. (Japex) oil exploration: