FOLLOWING UP ON THE SOLAR I OIL SPILL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 004941 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/EX AND EAP/MTS STATE PASS EPA STATE PASS USAID FOR MARY MELNYK USDOC FOR NOAA/NMMS USDA PASS FOREST SERVICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EWWT TPHY EAID SOCI RP SUBJECT: FOLLOWING UP ON THE SOLAR I OIL SPILL REF: (a) MANILA 03478 (b) MANILA 03549 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) Although long-term damage to ecosystems from the Guimaras oil spill appears limited, there has been a substantial impact on the already tenuous livelihoods of fishermen who worked the contaminated areas. Some international assistance has been lined up to help develop alternative livelihoods. Assistance is still very much needed to build the capacity of the GRP to deal with such crises. Post hopes to bring back a USG team to assist in training and capacity-building for future spills. End Summary. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (U) Tanker "Solar I" sank off Guimaras Island on August 11, 2006, spilling bunker fuel, resulting in the Philippine's worst oil spill disaster. USAID funded officers from the U.S. Coast Guard and a NOAA scientist to consult with the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino scientists on oil collection and damage mitigation. Shoreline clean-up crews worked from August 12 until mid-November to collect 59,000 sacks of debris from the oil spill. The debris, destined for processing at a cement plant, was loaded onto a barge which subsequently sunk near another island. -------------- -------------- SCIENTIFIC SPILL REMEDIATION CONFERENCE CONCLUSIONS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Scientists and representatives from government and civil society met in Iloilo City November 27-28 to discuss the environmental and economic damage and draft a long-term remediation plan for Guimaras. Conference attendees reported that the seagrass, corals, and fin-fish fared well, but the invertebrates are toxic and unfit for consumption. Officials will monitor the health of the beach inhabitants and clean-up workers. Their mortality and cancer rates will be compared to the general population. Participants suggested fisherfolk abandon fishing and invertebrate harvesting in favor of occupations such as ecotourism, seaweed and invertebrate farming, and other endeavors, since the market is skeptical of purchasing fish caught around the island. ¶4. (U) Nearly half of the mangrove stands of Guimaras Island were oiled. The Philippine Coast Guard convinced the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the need to spray diluted dispersants, but the Coast Guard has not received funds to buy the chemicals. The Coast Guard contends it saved 97% of the mangrove forests with this method during last year's large oil spill on Semirara Island. ¶5. (U) The International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund representative announced the Fund had signed a contract with Sonsub Engineering to siphon the vessel's remaining oil in March 2007. Sonsub's remote operated vehicle will drill two holes in the Solar I to siphon out the remaining fuel. The cost will range from $6-$8 million USD and take up to 20 days, depending on how much bunker oil remains in the vessel. -------------- SHORE CLEAN-UP COMPLETE, CONTAMINANTS SINK -------------- ¶6. (SBU) With clean-up of the shore complete, the barge carrying the bagged oil pollutants sunk off another island on November 20. High seas inundated one of the two cargo holds of the barge contracted by Petron, owner of the spilled bunker oil. The Philippine Coast Guard had advised against transporting any hazardous materials by barge and found that the captain and engineer had forged their credentials. When they attempted to void the contract, government-controlled Petron Oil obtained approval from the President's office to transport by barge with that particular MANILA 00004941 002 OF 002 crew. -------------- ASSISTANCE STILL SOUGHT -------------- ¶7. (U) Conference attendees will submit findings to an international donor's conference in January 2007. The United Nations passed a resolution on November 15 calling for international help and capacity-building. Subsequently, the United Nations Development Program released $600,000 for livelihood programs and $350,000 for an environmental assessment. The Philippine Department of Budget and Management is waiting for a rehabilitation plan to release $2.6 million earmarked for remediation and monitoring activities. ¶8. (U) USAID reports that $10,000 of the allocated travel cost for the U.S. Pacific Strike Team in August 2006 remains and has requested a recommendation for the unspent money. GRP agencies were impressed with the three U.S. Coast Guard officers and NOAA scientist on the Pacific Strike Team (ref b): conference attendees and the U.N. resolution call for capacity building. Therefore, Post suggests USAID use the remaining money to finance the team's return to conduct a workshop in Manila to increase the Philippine government's disaster response capabilities and promote interagency teamwork. KENNEY