Dark days ahead

Aren’t we Filipinos blessed that our country is one of 18 mega-biodiverse countries of the world, containing two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity?

Mind you, between 70 and 80 percent of the world’s plant and animal species live on our shores but these natural wonders are, unfortunately, under constant threat from environmental catastrophes, some of which are man-made.

Take a look, for example, at the devastating oil spills that have happened in the past and, recently, in Oriental Mindoro, and one gets a vivid picture of the environmental and health impacts on the Filipino people.

Oil spills can have a significant impact on human health, both in the short term and the long term. The chemicals released during oil spills can be toxic and cause a range of health problems, depending on the level and duration of exposure.

For an archipelagic state such as ours, this is indeed a problem.

Imagine what oil spills can do to the vast population living in coastal areas, both in terms of

their livelihood

“The other equally devastating impact that oil spills can have is on our marine habitats and ecosystems. “Oil spills can have a significant impact on human health, both in the short term and the long term.

and health.

One of the most common health problems associated with oil spills is respiratory issues. The volatile organic compounds released from the oil can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. People who are exposed to these chemicals for extended periods may develop more severe respiratory problems, such as bronchitis or asthma.

The other equally devastating impact that oil spills can have is on our marine habitats and ecosystems. Already, we have seen reports of harm being done to the aquatic life in the area.

We can only imagine what sort of havoc the 900,000 liters of industrial oil can wreak on the life thriving in the waters of Oriental Mindoro and neighboring areas as we begin to uncover the full extent of the spill.

If we can glean anything from similar past incidents, such as the 1993 oil spill in Guimaras and the 2006 oil spill in Subic Bay, there are dark days ahead for the ecology and human health in the affected area.

The 1993 Guimaras oil spill, for example, resulted in the release of around 2 million liters of oil into the sea, affecting not only the marine ecosystem but also the livelihoods of the people who depended on fishing for their income. The oil spill caused respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health problems among the local population, and studies have shown that the long-term health impacts of the spill are still being felt today.

Similarly, the 2006 oil spill in Subic Bay, which released over 500,000 liters of oil into the sea, had significant health impacts on the local population. The toxic chemicals released caused skin irritation, respiratory problems, and other health issues among the people who lived and worked near the affected area.

Of course, the predictable conclusion to opinion pieces dealing with this topic is to call on the government and those responsible to take responsibility for preventing oil spills and properly cleaning up when they occur, to protect the health of both people and the environment. But lines like these have become a cliché, a banality bound to be repeated when another oil spill occurs.

This might be wishful thinking, and some would say I’m being a little off-topic here, but the government must increase its investments in alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power, to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and decrease the risk of future oil spills.

Yada yada yada.

Still, I can’t fail to miss the opportunity to add my own obvious and vapid “call to action” ritual by saying that, yes, the government must take action to prevent oil spills from occurring in the first place. This means strengthening regulations around the transport of industrial oil and holding oil companies and individuals accountable for the damage they cause.

We should not tire of holding the government and the “whodunnit” to account, no matter how seemingly trite and regular this may become.