Philippine E-Journals

The After Effects of Oil Spill in Guimaras, Philippines

Rolando A. Alimen | Ma. Cecilia D. Alimen

Discipline: Ecology

 

Abstract:

The Guimaras oil spill was a massive oil spill at the Guimaras Strait, the Philippines. It was dubbed as the worst oil spill ever in the Philippines. The oil tanker M/T Solar 1, carrying more than two million liters of bunker fuel, sank on August 11, 2006 at the Guimaras Strait off the coast of the Guimaras and Negros Occidental provinces, causing some 500,000 liters of oil to pour into the strait. It has been said that the recent oil spill has adversely affected marine sanctuaries and mangrove reserves in three out of five municipalities in Guimaras Island and reached the shores of Iloilo and Negros Occidental. The oil spill occurred in the Visayas Sea which is considered a rich fishing ground that supplies most of the fisheries demand for the entire country. This study was therefore conducted to determine what life is among the Guimaras fisher folks after the oil spill in 2006. Interviews were conducted to generate the data needed in this investigation. Results showed that ‘life was not the same before and after the oil spill. Fish catch and sea shells became few and children are now afraid to bathe in the waters for fear of the oil spill’s effects. Development of milkfish fish cage, handicrafts, and food preservation were top most livelihood activities resorted to by the fisher folks after the oil spill. Budget inclusion, research and other trainings were part of the LGU and International interventions that were done after the oil spill.