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Tony Cummins writes:
I would like to compliment the author of the article "The Business
of Blasting", but his world may be a little too centered on Cebu.
In fact, the majority of blasting caps, locally known as "pistons" are
made in Burabod on San Antonio Island, Northern Samar and it is from there
that they are taken to Cebu for distribution. San Antonio, Northern Samar
has the biggest number of blast cap suppliers in the Eastern Visayas.
This situation has been going on without pause for at least 15 years
and has caused the deaths of many handlers and indeed foreign tourists,
as well as damage to wildlife such as dolphins and turtles, which have
no choice but to pass through the San Bernardino Strait in their migrations.
In 1992, prime materials, (mainly fertilizers) were imported into the
Island at about a dozen sacks (50kilo) a week, now they are delivered
at a rate of 130-150 sacks a week. In 1992, the pistons, (detonators)
were imported and of a simple nature; now they are manufactured in TENS
of thousands just outside of Burabod.
Of course, the police and military in Samar will all tell you that they
have "raided" Burabod many times, but have found very little evidence
of the illegal activity, and that the situation is "under control." But
the amounts of prime materials arriving on San Antonio Island at Burabod
are now counted in hundreds of sacks rather than kilos or tons.
Only by a chain of political "umbrellas" could the business, controlled
by four major dealers or factors, be allowed to continue for so long.
In the past year, cosmetic efforts have been made by the authorities
to make it appear that something is being done to control the situation.
Every now and then, Bantay Dagat patrol boats would arrest some poor fisherman
for using perhaps a quarter kilo of blasting material. Meanwhile, however,
thousands of kilos of explosives and tens of thousands of detonators are
being exported out of San Antonio to other parts of the Visayas and Luzon,
and even to Mindanao and Papua New Guinea. (In the last "accident" a piston
worker was killed when 12,000 detonators blew up around him.)
To make things look cool, a delivery boat is seized, but the explosives
mysteriously disappear or fall into deep water. But these are only local
deliveries, going to south Luzon or Masbate or nearby places; the big
stuff ALWAYS gets through!
I suppose I could be considered a world expert on Samar blast fishing,
from piston making to fishing itself; I have even bought some explosives
for digging a well. But perhaps my real expertise is in the San Bernardino
Strait itself. As a marine captain I have studied the San Bernardino for
many years and know her majestic secrets - her currents and winds but
above all, her marine life, especially the turtles traveling through those
waters. I have noted with enthusiasm how turtles and dolphins change migration
routes to avoid the blasters. Time and again I have been astounded by
the intelligence of the dolphins, who seem to wait for the "right time"
to pass through, perhaps while the fishermen are having dinner.
In 1992, during the months of June through August, the breeding areas
for the giant rays were a sight to behold; in the last three to four years
the rays no longer arrive there.
About 65% or more of ALL migrating marine life in or around Cebu passes
through the San Bernardino Strait-Northern Samar. So even if you are successful
in stopping blast fishing in your area, stocks will continue to diminish
because of the indiscriminate blast fishing in San Bernardino, where blasts
of ONE GALLON each are now the norm.
By stopping the activities of Burabod, marine life will have a chance
to regain lost numbers over a vast area of the Visayas.
I have done my best over the years but it has cost me dearly and I am
now ready to abandon the area completely due mainly to political pressures.
I sincerely hope that someday people like you and your organization will
be able to turn the tide.
oooOooo
Mar Guidote, CRMP Task Leader for Local Government and Coastal Law
Enforcement, replies:
We did not include the Samar-Leyte blasting business in our article because
information about it came in only after we have published the article.
But this was precisely the reason why the article was published: to get
information otherwise kept from the public and throw them out for open
discussion.
We truly appreciate the information you shared with us. We will do our
best to call the attention of the authorities on the matter.
There is an on-going initiative in your area headed by a young lawyer
of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center whose name is Atty. Jesus
Agura. Atty. Agura is hoping to get concerned sectors and law enforcement
agencies to work together to address various fisheries issues, including
blast fishing. I will forward to him the information you provided us.
oooOooo
We welcome comments from OneOcean
visitors and will post here those that may be of value as inputs to discussions
on current coastal management issues. -- Editor
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