Inviting everyone: Clean-up drive of the oil spill in Cordova

[sevmik]

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UPDATE: This just in, Parkmall Cebu has offered to help in the clean-up effort. We are currently nailing down the specifics with them.

I am also waiting for the report from one volunteer who went to the field and talked to those in charge at the command center. Once it comes in I will post all updates here and in the links above. Stay tuned guys.

[sevmik]

EYES HERE (August 22 UPDATE):
This clean-up drive is broken down into two phases because the incident has both immediate and long-term needs.

Short-term goal: The efforts of the coast guard as well as professional divers to plug the leak have been unsuccessful so far due to unfavorable sea and weather conditions. Every hour gallons of oil pour out into the sea, further damaging marine life as well as presenting a hazard to human health. All we could do for now is to lessen the buildup of the oil slick along the coasts in the hopes that damage would be minimized. This is our immediate goal, the details of which are as follows:

• Meeting time: 9am
• Meeting place: Cordova Municipal Hall (We need to coordinate with the command center as they will be the one to assign us an area)
• What to bring (personal): Protective equipment such as rubber boots, gloves, face masks, and hats or raincoats (depending on the weather); food/snacks and plenty of water; enough money for transportation and contingency; wear sensible clothes such as pants and long-sleeved shirts; additional clothes and face towels;
• Contact numbers – 0922 935 8385 and 0923 825 0105 (once you arrive at the municipal hall text us or look for anyone wearing a grey Cebu Shooters Guild cap)

The Coast Guard and other military units lack personal protective equipment (PPE). But for those who can’t bring their own PPE don’t worry. This tragedy has many other equally pressing aspects other than the buildup of oil. Thus, we might be assigned other tasks such as helping distribute relief goods to residents, manpower for the feeding program, and other social work.

We have had initial talks with Parkmall Cebu if they could provide some PPE for us. We will be meeting with their representatives tonight and we will update you afterwards. They have already assigned a drop off area in front of the mall for donations as well as oil boom materials.

Long-term goal:
Some of the organizers have had first-hand experience in the oil spill that happened in Guimaras a few years ago. Until now, rehabilitation of marine conditions is still ongoing there.

We are expecting the same to happen here in Cebu. Already, hundreds of hectares of mangrove forest have been affected, and several young mangroves have died already due to suffocation. The marine life too is near to useless. The eel farms that produce the local delicacy called Bakasi, which is a favorite not just of tourists but locals as well, has been severely affected.

In light of this, the long-term goal of this campaign is as follows:

• Promotion and education campaign – we need to raise the awareness of everyone in Cebu because this affects not just the residents of Cordova but businesses as well who really on the tourism aspect of Corodova. What’s more, the slick could spread to Cebu City as well if the sea currents shift. Through an education campaign we can get more people to help and donate to the cause.
• Social work – the livelihood of the residents of 12 barangays have been affected. We need to tie-up with government departments as well as concerned organizations and companies to do what we can for the residents.
• Accountability – we also need to press for the accountability of the parties involved in the sea mishap, and have them answer to their responsibilities to the affected areas and families.
• Rehabilitation – this could take months. Constant monitoring of the toxicity levels of the surround waters need to be done before proper rehabilitation could be started. We are thinking of starting a mangrove planting drive in the coming months as well as helping the fisherfolk re-establish their eel farms.

A presscon organized by Parkmall Cebu will be held this weekend to jump start the education campaign.

The entire endeavor may seem daunting, but ever since I organized this last Monday I have seen how Cebuanos could unite in tragedies like this. To use a popular meme term, faith in humanity restored!

This is it for now. Please post your questions, comments, or suggestions below.

Thanks everyone, stay united Cebu!

[vo2max]

Good evening.

Thanks for giving us the update.
Earlier today i was delighted on the online news of a local paper with mention that one of the leak has been plugged. Now i read from yours above the plugging was unsuccessful. Sayang. So another day lost again and additional effort for the clean-up ops.

Let's pray that the weather settles by tomorrow so plugging works can continue.

I commend you all for your hard work.
Much as i wanted to join and help actively too, I can't as i have a leg injury.
More power and God Bless sir.

[sevmik]

Thank you sir, your giving us moral support is help enough.

As for the news about the leak, this update was written before I knew about that news about the plugged leak. I'll search for that now so we could confirm it. If it is indeed true, then that's really great news.

[sevmik]

UPDATE Aug 22 9PM:
Hello everyone!

I just got back from a meeting with Parkmall representatives as well as other stakeholders. Due to the large number of individuals, organizations, and even companies willing to help out we have decided to formalize this clean-up drive as an alliance to make it easily identifiable. In addition, the long term goals of our effort makes it practical to have a formal alliance.

We have decided to call the alliance One For Cordova (OFC), and the hashtag is #1forsea

There will be a press conference on Monday, August 26, at the Parkmall to formally introduce the alliance. Included in the press conference will be representatives from organizations, sectors, and companies as well as residents from Cordova who will talk about their situation there.

The presscon aims to impart the message that OFC is an alliance coming from a broad spectrum of Cebu, cutting across all levels of society from the fisherfolk to young professionals to business people to large companies, to stand united in helping Cordova and protecting our marine resources.

Our long-term goals of education, awareness, and rehabilitation will be carried on by the alliance.

In behalf of the organizers, I thank everyone for all the help and support shown so far. This Saturday, let's show the world that Cebu is One For Cordova! Don't forget to use our hashtag and share to your friends.

[sevmik]

our logo

[Peenut]

master @sevmik, karon rajud ko kabasa. I have an orientation this saturday. I want to join unta.

[sevmik]

^bro, ok ra kay non-stop man ang efforts ani. keep cehcking lang dri and sa facebook event page for updates.

[virginmay]

see you tomorrow
#1forSEA

[sevmik]

Hello everyone. Sorry for the delay, I had to go to work last Sunday as well as today.

During the first day of the clean-up last Saturday, volunteers from Youth for Livable Cebu, Parkour Cebu, 3Zero Music Studio, as well as several individuals and iStoryans all pitched in help in the containment and cleaning operation. A full list of names will be posted later.

We were divided into two groups, one group was sent to Brgy Day-as to help the coast guard while the other was sent to DSWD to help in the packing and distribution of relief goods for the affected residents.

We saw first-hand how bad the situation is, and how understaffed and underfunded the coast guard is. While there were some police cadets sent to the area, it was not nearly enough as the affected area spans almost all 12 barangays in Cordova. The help our volunteers gave was most welcome as it freed some of the coast guard as well as local residents to rest and focus on the much more intensive work that requires professional skill and physical effort.

There were also some officials from 2Go Shipping coordinating with the command center as well as distributing materials for the clean-up.

Last Sunday as well as today there were other volunteers from #1ForSea that went there as well.

This afternoon at 3PM, a presscon will be held at Parkmall to introduce One For Cordova as well as give the residents a chance to speak out about their situation there.

I will be posting later today images taken from the area as well. Thanks!



some of the volunteers from last saturday. thanks to virginmay and viaje sales for volunteering!


at brgy day-as


more photos to follow later