A FISHERY nongovernment organization is asking the government to stop the ongoing oil and gas exploratory drilling in Tañon Strait off Cebu if the company conducting the exploration and the Department of Energy (DOE) would not offer compensations to 1,500 fishermen affected by the fishing ban.

Tambuyog Development Center (TDC) executive director Arsenio Tanchuling said the exploration should be suspended pending the establishment of baseline information that will help the government and fishermen establish just compensation for fisherman in case of oil spills.

Tanchuling said Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. (Japex) and the DOE have not agreed on a fair compensation with the affected fishemen in the towns of Aloguinsan and Pinamungajan in Northern Cebu.

“We need to establish baseline information on the fish species and mangroves in Tañon Strait because it is a protected area,” said Tanchuling.

The TDC noted that a local fisherman earns an average of P5,300 monthly and needs a fair compensation of P10,600 for the two-month fishing ban imposed by Japex. Tanchuling alleged that the Japanese firm gives fishermen only two sacks, which is worth only P2,000 or less than 20 percent of his income in two months.

He said the total compensation to 1,500 fishermen in the two towns affected by the fishing bans would total P15.9 million.

Tanchuling also noted that there are also no guarantees for compensation in case an oil spill, gas blowout or pollution occurs, which affects the eco-system of Tañon, including the whales and dolphins found in the strait.

TDC argued that Japex should have made a “baseline research on the biophysical and socioeconomic value of the Tañon ecosystem” before it was allowed to proceed with the oil exploration.

“The results of the research should have been the basis of any compensation package,” said Tanchuling.

As of press time, officials of Japex and DOE could not be reached for comment to give their reaction.

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A FISHERY nongovernment organization is asking the government to stop the ongoing oil and gas exploratory drilling in Tañon Strait off Cebu if the company conducting the exploration and the Department of Energy (DOE) would not offer compensations to 1,500 fishermen affected by the fishing ban.