P130M fund for Guimaras rehab ready for release

The P130 million fund for the rehabilitation of the oil spill affected areas in Guimaras province is already available.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Julian D. Amador said Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes has instructed them to immediately send a Work and Financial Plan to the Department of Budget and Management for the said amount so that cash allocations can be made immediately. The funds will be for the different rehabilitation activities that will restore the environment of Guimaras and affected municipalities in Iloilo.

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'Clash of the titans' in Guimaras with Lopez comeback?

TNT also gathered information of 'secret' visits in Guimaras by businessmen and corporate personalities identified with the Lopez Group of Companies Interests are reportedly renewed on Lopez-backed initiatives of a Guimaras ecozone, completion of the Guimaras feeder airport, a five-star golf course investment and the multi-billion planned Guimaras bridge that will link the province to other Western Visayas provinces.

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Guimaras repackaged as tourist destination

The Department of Tourism (DOT) will embark on a short-term rehabilitation and marketing program starting next month for the affected tourist destinations on the island.

DOT regional director Edwin Trompeta said an "island paradise race" and an international mountain bike festival would be held on the island to highlight that "there's more to beaches in Guimaras."

He pointed out that only 20 percent of the beach tourism was affected by the oil spill but the other destinations have suffered a slack of visitors because of the impression that the whole of the island was contaminated by the oil sludge.

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3 firms vie for Solar 1 siphoning

The International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund, which has approved the funding for the siphoning out of the bunker fuel from MT Solar 1 off the coast of Guimaras, will deliberate next week on the proposals of three foreign contractors that submitted bids to do the job.

The three firms are Norwegian, Japanese and British with equipment based in Singapore, Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela said yesterday.

However, the names of the firms were not disclosed by the IOPC, he said.

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Multi-billion-peso reimbursement eyed for Guimaras rehab

THE Philippine government will seek reimbursement from the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund “and other appropriate sources’’ for its expenses in the Guimaras oil spill cleanup, a ranking House member said on Wednesday.

Camarines Sur Reresentative Luis Villafuerte said Congress inserted in the 2006 supplemental budget a provision requiring the budget and finance departments and the National Disaster Coordinating Council to seek repayment from the IOPC Fund for all spending, including aid to victims, related to the oil spill.

Villafuerte, chairman of the House committee on fisheries and aquatic resources, said Congress initially provided a total of P1.35 billion for the cleanup and rehabilitation of all areas affected by the disaster.

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Int’l aid groups, RP NGOs commit funds to help Guimaras folk

JORDAN, Guimaras -- International and local relief and funding agencies and nongovernment organizations have committed to fund the rehabilitation of oil-spill contaminated areas on the island and provide alternative livelihood to affected residents.

At least 13 agencies, institutions and NGOs pledged their support to fund programs and projects in the next five years during the Donors’ Forum organized by the provincial government at the capital town of Jordan on Thursday.

The proposed programs focused on rehabilitation of marine resources especially the mangroves and providing alternative livelihood to affected residents, mostly fishermen and shell gatherers.

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