Lives in peril: the oil spill in Guimaras

Last Saturday, I went to Guimaras together with two officemates, Danny and Raymund. Our assignment were to conduct environmental assessment and produce an initial screening report on the impact of the oil spill to the affected communities in the island province. It was my first time in Guimaras, and probably won't be the last should our foundation (PBSP) implement a livelihood rehabilitation program for the affected families, especially those whose source of income is fishing.

What confronted us were very sad images - stained white beaches, patches and patches of mangroves buried in bunker fuel from the waist down, lifeless fishes in the water's surface, waters perpetually polluted. But just as man is responsible for the destruction of Guimaras' marine ecosystem, there are also so much that man can do so the future of this island paradise would not remain as bleak.

Here are some of the pictures that I took last weekend.


Almost dead from the waist down.



Life amidst death.





This used to be a sea of honey.