By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.
After some anxious weeks caused by an oil spill incident, the management of Therma Marine, Inc., which operates a power barge in Maco, Compostela Valley Province, formally turned over 5,000 mangrove seedlings to the communities of Purok Asinan, barangay Cadunan, of Mabini town, Compostela Valley Province, last Friday.
The purok was affected by the oil spill incident last month a week after typhoon Yolanda hit the Eastern Visayas region.
The sustainable livelihood project costs about P175,000 and will benefit the 29 members of the Cadunan Fisherfolk Association.
The mangrove seedlings were bought from the association which has a nursery that nurtures them. Each seedling costs six pesos and the company (Therma Marine Inc) spent some P30,000 for the whole 5,000 seedlings alone. The company also compensated the members of the community association at P150 each person.
The power barge’s management will start evaluating the trees planted from April 30, 2014 to March 30, 2015. After which, they will pay the association every month at two pesos for each existing tree during that period.
Carlos Hitio, chairman of the purok, said his constituents are being helped to avail of a sustainable livelihood by the management.
“Isip kami mananagat, nalipay lang pud mi naa puy livelihood na gihatag sa amoa,” Hitio said, adding that the mangrove trees they planted will also protect them from huge waves.
On the other hand, Hitio shared that the oil spill incident did not cause any major damage on the shore based on the evaluation of Philippine Coast Guard, adding that they stopped their normal fishing operations for two nights, the reason he sought help from the Therma Marine management.
On November 15, 2013 the power barge was transferring oil from one tank to another to maintain balance but the high level sensor did not function which made the oil overflowfrom the tank. However, the oil spill boom blocked the oil and prevented it from spreading.
The community environment and natural resources office of the municipality and the management immediately responded to clean the shore and retrieve the spilled oil.
Therma Marine Inc., is subsidiary of Aboitiz Power which has two power barges operating in Mindanao.
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