Sulu Province News November 2011

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P89-M projects benefit Sulu district

By NONOY E. LACSON


JOLO, Sulu, Philippines – The 1st Congressional District of Sulu has implemented some P89 million worth of priority infrastructure projects, and other support programs including scholarship grants, as part of its enhanced community development effort for the local residents.

Representative Habib Tupay Loong (1st District, Sulu) said the projects are composed mainly of infrastructure and infrastructure support programs to boost the socio-economic situation of the province, and to uplift the living condition of the constituents here.

He said the concreting of national roads, construction of farm-to-market roads, health support facilities, educational structures, and environment and eco-tourism facilities were among the programs that were earlier prioritized for immediate funding and implementation by the national government through the various implementing arms.

“The bulk of these projects consist of repairs and construction of roads, health-related facilities, and other community-based infrastructure aimed at boosting the socio-economic condition of the province,” Loong said.

He said about P41 million was used for road construction, P8.5 million for multi-purpose centers, P3 million for improvement of public markets, P2 million for the improvement of the Hadji Panglima Tahil Municipal Hall, P15 million for fish shades or “payao” and seaweeds farming, P5 million for cultivation of root crops and vegetables, P3.5 million for duck-raising, P4.2 million for scholarship grants, P4.2 for a mobile clinic, P800,000 for medicines, and P1.5 million as support for the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

Loong also made an assurance that construction of more road networks in the 1st Congressional District will be undertaken early next year as part of his priority infrastructure development program.

He explained that peace and development in the province can only be achieved through a massive implementation of much-needed basic infrastructure projects and economic development programs for the people of Sulu.

He believes that by using a formula composed of socio-economic development coupled with the needed infrastructure development projects, the government can easily liberate the people here from poverty.

Meanwhile, Loong inaugurated two newly completed road concreting projects in Parang, Sulu last week, costing the national government some P15 million.

Loong first inaugurated the P5 million farm-to-market road in Barangay Bi-id, connecting the villages of Liang and Alu-Kaha in Parang town, which was funded by the Department of Agriculture.

Sulu town suitable for mariculture

By NONOY E. LACSON


BANGUINGUI, Sulu, Philippines – Top officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has conducted a survey in the costal areas of this town to assess the viability for the establishment of a mariculture farm in this part of the country.

BFAR mariculture specialist Peck I. Orbita and senior aquaculturist Frank F. Santos jointly conducted the survey late last week using the latest equipment to determine the sea depth, sea current, viability location, water temperature, water salinity, and the hydrogen-ion concentration or PH factor of the area.

Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla said his government has requested the BFAR to conduct the survey after noting that the coastal areas of this municipality is almost free from big waves – a condition he said that is very suitable for mariculture farming.

Local officials here also said that the coastal areas of the town is abundant with sea urchin, sea cucumber, abalone, lobsters, crabs of various species, while in some sections of the coastal waters resides several varieties of high-valued fish species.

These are some of the aspects, Sahidulla said, pushed him to ask BFAR to determine the suitability of the coastal areas of this town for mariculture farming.

The two BFAR officials, aided by Sahidulla and several of his senior staff members, visited some areas to conduct the test.

After a rapid assessment, Orbita and Santos said they are convinced that the area is suitable for the establishment of a floating fish cage and mariculture farm.

They also conducted a short information drive for the residents in the area about the forthcoming government projects, and informed them that the projects will also provide them with added income when established.

A short exchange of ideas, techniques and information sharing also took place between the BFAR officials and a group of fishermen here during the forum.

Orbita and Santos said they appreciated very much the positive interest showed by the local fishermen here on the establishment of the mariculture farm and floating fish cage.

The two BFAR officials said they will recommend to BFAR Director Asis Perez the immediate establishment of the mariculture farm and floating fish cage project here, coupled with the corresponding initial funding.

The project, when completed, will help uplift the living condition of the fishermen of the municipality, Sahidulla said.

Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala is confident that the country’s coffee industry will grow – dismissing observations it is headed downhill.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday at a hotel in Davao City where the 2nd Philippine Investors’ Forum was held, Alcala said the coffee industry in the country is not heading downhill, considering the impressive performance of the industry, particularly in Mindanao.

He said annual local demand for coffee beans is currently pegged at 64,000 metric tons (MT) valued at around P5 billion.

However, actual yield is P34 metric tons – where 80 percent of which is being purchased by local food company.

The SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City) Region and the Davao Region are the Philippines’ top coffee producing regions, based on DA records.

Alcala said that with the volume of produce and the high demand for coffee, the government together with the private sector, like potential coffee investors and major markets, are currently aggressive in implementing the necessary interventions to improve the country’s current volume of coffee produce.

The decline of the coffee industry in Mindanao was perceived due to the shift of coffee farmers in Mindanao and the SOCSKSARGEN Region to banana.

Alcala, however, said the result of production although lower than the annual demand in Mindanao is not an indicator that the coffee industry nose-dived.

DA has projected a five-percent growth rate in the coffee production in country by 2012 and beyond with the current interventions being made by the government and the private sector.

The ambitious projection is based on the growth rate obtained from January to September, 2011, of -7 percent compared to same period 2010 of -2 percent.

It was gathered that among the interventions being made by DA is making available about 1.3 million coffee planting materials for over 3,000 hectares of land by 2012. (With a report from PNA)

Sulu, Winky D deliver welcome rain on fans

By Taurai Mangudhla


HARARE - Although only two people walked away with customised Chevrolet sedans on Saturday, everyone who attended the Coca-Cola Pimped Up ride mid-term draw got an experience of their life.

Braving the rain, a term quite often loosely used, appropriate to describe the atmosphere at Harare’s Africa Unity Square as thousands of fans were soaked in the afternoon rain, all in the name of fun.

People moved from pavements on nearby buildings to the open space to welcome the Musarova Bigman hit-maker onto the stage.

The “Bigman”, as he is popularly known paced up and down the wet stage, perhaps in honour of his fans performance, chanting his popular Maninja slogan before treating the crowd to a host of his other hits.

The diverse crowd stood in the rain throughout the one hour performance singing along Winky D’s, Mujaguar, Mareverse Dhiri, Summertime and his latest duet with Lipsy among other tracks.

Winky D’s performance came after Stunner had done his thing with Baba Shupi. Upcoming hip hop star Junior Brown also took the opportunity to shine.

The urban groove artistes performed after Dendera music legend Sulumani Chimbetu’s live band performance.

Sulu, as usual, gave a scintillating performance which was characterised by his well-choreographed dances with his lead team.

The former Airforce of Zimbabwe officer delivered his late father’s songs such as Rudo Ibofu and One Way in-between tracks from his own albums — Reverse Dhiri and Temperature — to sum up a fine show on a rainy day.

Sulu has come of age and his masterly performance in the absence of good acoustics, proved he is on the up and can adapt to different settings with ease.

He remains the pace setter among the youthful band of musicians who have taken the local musical market by the scruff of its neck.

The Pimped Up Ride promotion launched in October is open to all and is based on locally manufactured products, namely Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Sparletta and Schweppes.

To enter, an individual has to collect six gold crowns on 300ml glass bottles of six caps on 500ml or 1 litre bottles or six gold ring pulls on cans.

The liners, ring pulls and caps will be stapled into a completed entry form and deposited into an entry box at a participating outlet.

Although it is good for participants in the promotion to be at the venue of the draw, one is not disqualified for not being at the venue if they are drawn.

The promotion is running for three months from October to December 2011.

The grand draw would be held in January 2012. Four cars will be won at the grand draw in Harare.

Banguingui shields coral reef area

By NONOY E. LACSON


BANGUINGUI, Sulu, Philippines – The municipal government here has declared as a protected area some 50 hectares of coral reef off the coast of Barangay Kahikukuk under this town.

According to Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla, several varieties of shallow coral reefs and algae can be found in the said protected area – making it an ideal sanctuary for deep sea species.

He said that at present, various species of fish measuring about three feet in length can be found in the deep portion of the sanctuary, while other sea creatures can also be seen at the shallow portion of the protected area.

“Anyone who visits the area would surely enjoy watching the various fish species around the area where corals and algae are located,” Sahidulla said.

He also said that security personnel had already been deployed in the protected area to make sure that fishermen would not disturb the fish sanctuary.

Sahidulla explained that the development of the site is aided by algae that are symbiotic with reef-building corals.

Coralline algae, sponges, and other organisms, combined with a number of cementation processes also contribute to reef growth, he said.

He added that the “dominant organisms are known as framework builders, because they provide the matrix for the growing reef. Corals and coralline algae precipitate calcium carbonate, whereas the framework-building sponges may also precipitate silica.”

Most of these organisms are colonial, and the slow process of precipitation moves the living surface layer of the reef upward and seaward, he said.

Sahidulla further explained that the reef is topographically complex like a rain forest, it has many strata and areas of strong shade, cast by the over-towering coral colonies.

Because of the complexity, thousands of species of fish and invertebrates live in association with reefs, which are by far our richest marine habitats, he said.





ARMM holds cultural festivity for peace and unity

By PIA Press Release


ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Nov 21 (PIA) –- The contingent from the island province of Sulu bagged once again this year’s top prize as five cultural ensembles representing the different component provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) faced off last Nov 16 night’s showdown of cultural presentation hosted by the Bureau on Cultural Heritage (BCH)-ARMM. Lawyer Ashrafia Aimee Biruar, BCH-ARMM executive director, said the showdown, dubbed as the “2011 Cultural Festival for Peace and Unity”, was again a celebration of the diverse and vibrant culture of people in the ARMM. The Bureau of Public Information disclosed that Biruar was hopeful to make this year’s competition more meaningful by underscoring the peace and unity campaign of the present ARMM administration. The theme is also in anticipation of the forthcoming celebration of the Mindanao week of peace next week, Biruar added. For the second consecutive year, the contingent from Sulu emerged as the top winner closely followed by Maguindanao on second, Tawi-Tawi on third, Lanao del Sur on fourth, and Basilan on fifth. Biruar thanked the different ARMM line agencies for contributing to the success of the cultural festival. Line agencies were divided among the five provinces to provide necessary support to the cultural ensemble from the particular province assigned to them. The cultural showdown is among the activities in the 22nd founding anniversary celebration of the ARMM. (JPA/BPI-ARMM/RVC-PIA9 ZBST)

P50-M Jolo Port rehabilitation up

By NONOY E. LACSON


To promote Sulu’s economic growth

JOLO, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) has allotted some P50 million to jump start the improvement and rehabilitation of the inter-island port here to serve as gateway for economic development in the province of Sulu.

Representative Habib Tupay Loong (1st District, Sulu) said the DoTC granted the amount to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to initially start the face-lifting and improvement of the Jolo Port.

In a letter to PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana, DoTC Undersecretary Rafael Antonio Santos disclosed that the amount of P50 million has been included in the proposed infrastructure budget of the department for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the port.

Adding that in order to ascertain the required funding for future programming to complete the expansion of the Jolo port, “we would appreciate receiving the overall investment requirement, pursuant to the feasibility study which you office is currently preparing.”

At present, Loong said, a feasibility study is being conducted by the PPA to determine the cost of the improvement of the port, and how long it will take for PPA to implement the project.

He also said that officers of the Science and Vision consulting firm had recently met with Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan before they started the conduct of a study to improve the port here.

Engineer Jameson Lee, a principal engineer of the project, said that the initial phase of the port rehabilitation would be to have a feasibility study to maximize the potential of the facility – based on the socio-economic profile of the province.

“The Science and Vision consulting firm will be conducting the study, the same firm that we commissioned to do the study for the Davao and Zamboanga Port,” Lee added.

“The study has a budget of P4.3 million, and will have a timeframe of six months, and will include tourism, international standards, local economic development, port management, and other concerns,” Engineer Malou Mamatad, head consultant of the consulting firm, said.

As this developed, local traders and residents here lauded Loong and Tan for their joint effort that made possible the improvement and repair of the Jolo Port.

The two top officials here are now known as “partners in the development, and united in the vision of making Sulu reach its full economic potential.”

“To have an updated port facility, especially in this part of the country, is of great importance, a vital component of sustainable economic growth,” Tan and Loong jointly said.

According to Loong, the PPA officials and consultants were impressed by the socio-economic profile of the province, which is expected to bring economic and political change in the area.

Island declared as turtle sanctuary

By NONOY E. LACSON


BANGUINGUI, Sulu, Philippines – The municipal government here has declared the Sipak Island off the village of South Paarul as a protected area for marine turtles and other endangered sea creatures living on the island, at the same time has limited the gathering of turtle eggs for commercial purposes.

Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla said he has issued an Executive Order (EO) banning the gathering of turtles and turtle eggs at the Sipak Island for commercial purposes.

Sahidulla said the turtles are now seriously considered as endangered species along with several sea creatures by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Sahidulla personally visited the island on Tuesday together with some officials of the DENR stationed in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and was convinced that the entire island should be placed under a government watch here.

During the same visit, Sahidulla with the DENR officials held a forum on the island and informed the people that the local government unit (LGU) here is now banning the gathering of turtle and their eggs for commercial purposes.

“This is one of the few sites that we have in the country today where you can find turtles of various species laying their eggs in the sand, and living along the coastal waters of this island,” Sahidulla said during his recent visit on the island.

Hadja Dar, a resident of the island, claimed that some turtles, including Green Turtles, are having some Chinese markings on their back, an indication she said that the turtles had reached that country.

Turtle eggs are abundant at a local market here and in the markets of neighboring islands, and in this municipality, and is being sold at a price of between P5 to P8 per egg.

The town chief executive here said that he will closely monitor the activities of the people of the island, and will penalize those who will violate the executive order that also carries also a corresponding penalty.

“We have to monitor the people living on this island, and punish those who will violate the order, in order for us to fully protect the turtles and other endangered sea creatures,” Sahidulla emphasized.

Firm gains rights to Sulu project

By Amy R. Remo

Philippine Daily Inquirer


Mitra Energy Philippines Ltd., the local unit of Malaysia-based Mitra Energy Ltd., has gained full ownership of the Service Contract (SC) 56 license, allowing it to pursue the Sulu Sea exploration project. In a statement posted on its website, Mitra Energy said it had “increased to 100 percent its equity in SC 56, Sandakan Basin, offshore Philippines, effective October 31, 2011.” This means that Mitra Energy has already acquired the interests of its partners in the SC 56 consortium, namely ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Philippines BV, which previously held a 50-percent stake and was the operator of the service contract, and BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty Ltd., which had a 25-percent interest. “Mitra believes that SC 56 presents an exciting opportunity to commercialize significant hydrocarbon resource volumes and support the future energy requirements of the Philippines,” Mitra Energy said. Only two weeks ago, ExxonMobil Exploration, the local arm of US oil giant ExxonMobil Corp., announced that it would withdraw from the Sulu Sea exploration project and resign as operator of SC 56, following its discovery that gas from the wells it had drilled in the contract area were of “noncommercial quantities.” “While it encountered gas in three of the four wells drilled, noncommercial quantities of gas were found,” ExxonMobil earlier said. The company spent at least $400 million in the past two years to drill the exploration wells in the Sandakan Basin. But according to Mitra Energy, two significant gas discoveries have been found in drilling the Dabakan-1 and Palandag-1A wells, and a further minor discovery at Babendil-1. In a separate interview with reporters, Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr. said that Mitra Energy is free to look for other partners to join them in pursuing the Sulu Sea gas project. Mitra Energy has a lot of leeway in terms of the period remaining for exploration and other activities it may deem as necessary since ExxonMobil had already fast-tracked the completion of the consortium’s four-well commitment in only two years, out of the seven-year exploration timeframe given to developers, Layug said. Meanwhile, the Energy official revealed that ExxonMobil remained interested in scouting for other oil and gas exploration opportunities, noting that the Philippines has always been “an area of interest for them.” But the US firm may no longer have enough time to prepare for and participate in the ongoing bidding round—the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 4 for petroleum—which commenced in June this year.

Treason and punishment

By Clem M. Bascar


When the news about the GRP Peace Panel giving P5-Million to a major belligerent organization exploded figuratively like a megaton bomb, it really did not come as a surprise to me. This kind of diplomatic tactic involving money had been employed in history by Spain and the United States in several instances to strike or seal a peace deal.

Firstly, it was money which was principally responsible for “crushing and silencing the Philippine Revolution against Spain when Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo, President of the Philippine Republic, agreed to accept the proffered pardon and permission to emigrate to Hong Kong together with his 26 most trusted officers on December 29, 1897 aboard the Uranus after receiving the first installment amounting to P400,000.00, exactly half of the total amount of P800.000.00 which the Spanish government offered for the surrender of all the guerilla commands still in the field and for the revolutionary leadership”. This peace deal was consummated under the terms of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato signed in Malacañang Palace by Gen. Primo de Vera for the Spanish Government and Alejandro Paterno for the Philippine Republic on December 14, 1897.

Secondly, it was also money which finally sealed the peace deal between Spain and the United States when the former sold to the latter the Philippine Islands for $20-Million under Article III of the December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris which surreptitiously included Mindanao and Sulu.

Thirdly, the amount of $300,000.00 was also paid by the United States to Spain for the group of islands of Cagayan de Sulu which were missed out in the technical description of the territorial limits of the Philippine Islands as drawn by way of lines and coordinates under Article III of the December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris. This was stipulated in the supplemental treaty signed by Spain and the United States in Washington, DC on November 7, 1900 correcting the technical description of the territorial limits of the Philippine Islands erroneously drawn in the previous treaty.

And fourthly, the amount of $10,000 was also used by Gen. John C. Bates when he negotiated for the recognition of the sovereignty of the United States by the Sultan of Sulu and his datus which placed the Sultanate of Sulu as a protectorate of the United States under the terms of the Bates Treaty signed on August 20, 1899 in Jolo.

To my mind, each one of the cited treaties involving the use of money to strike a peace deal between two warring countries or parties has its own defects and imperfections which make it suspiciously anomalous or scandalous from the viewpoint of the Law of Treaties. However, the most recent case involving the use of money, could be the most bizarre because it was given to a belligerent organization not to strike a peace deal or payment for its surrender or allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines, but allegedly as financial assistance for training and education of its leaders while it pursues its secessionist or revolutionary aspirations and objectives. Wow, where in the world do you find a country who gives assistance to its own enemy? I hope this does not constitute an act of treason to the Filipino people. Clearly this is a huge moral victory for the belligerent organization.

And do you know what usually was meted out as punishment for high treason in the past? Death by hanging, quartering, or being drawn! I JUST HOPE I AM ABSOLUTELY WRONG!

4 hurt in Sulu, Cotabato blasts

By Alfred Dalizon


THREE separate explosions rocked Sulu and North Cotabato Monday and Tuesday leaving at least five persons wounded, police said yesterday.

Around 7:10 a.m. Tuesday an improvised explosive device believed to have been planted by Abu Sayyaf extremists in Sitio Kaban-Kaban, Bgy. Timpook in Patikul municipality went off injuring local barangay councilor Ahamadul Akjam, 40; Nurhussin Ladja, 28; and Alah Akjam, 54. The three were rushed to the Sulu Provincial Hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds.

Police said the younger Akjam sustained injuries in his face while Ladja suffered shrapnel wounds in the different parts of her body. The other Akjam sustained minor injuries.

Police said the suspects were believed to be responsible for the kidnapping of Indian national Biju Veetil lst June 22.

Hours earlier, Rudimar Ladja and Ibno Hadjula were wounded in a grenade attack. Police said one of five still unidentified men lobbed a grenade at the house of Hadjula located along Serrantes Street in Bgy. Chinese Pier, Jolo City 10:15 p.m. Monday.

The two victims were taken to the Sulu Provincial Hospital for treatment.

In North Cotabato, an IED fashioned out from two 81mm mortar rounds went off some 200 meters away from the main gate of the USM campus along USM Avenue in Kabacan town 8 p.m. Tuesday. No injury was reported in the blast although some houses incurred minor damage.

An initial post-blast investigation disclosed that the bomb appears to be the same with similar IEDs previously used by the group of notorious bomb-maker Basit Usman. Pieces of evidence recovered at the scene have been submitted to the Regional Crime Laboratory for examination.

Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero A. Cruz Jr. said all three incidents are still being investigated.

Military air strike kills 3 Abu Sayyaf leaders

By bong


ZAMBOANGA CITY -– Five Abu Sayyaf bandits, including three mid-level leaders, were confirmed killed after the military bombed an Abu Sayyaf lair where two Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants are hiding in the hinterlands of Sulu. Second Marine Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo said the air strike was launched Sunday in the lair of Abu Sayyaf leader Umbra Jumdail, alias Doctor Abu Pula, in Mount Tukay, Barangay Karawan, Indanan town which “was borne out of intelligence activities.” The two JI militants who are hiding in the camp of Doctor Abu Pula are Marwan and Muawiyah, Tanalgo disclosed. Tanalgo identified the slain Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders as Ben Wagas, Apo Mike and Abu Abad while the killed followers were Said Madarang and a certain Andag. “The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) has pooled its assets for the conduct of this operation right into the terrorist lair at sunrise. The ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) camp is situated in the jungles of Indanan,” Tanalgo said. “What we are doing is part of our mandate in defeating the ASG and JI as embodied in the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan,” he added. He said the troops have also recovered three high-powered firearms, a caliber .45 pistol, assorted ammunition, explosives, backpacks and assorted camouflage uniforms. He said the group of Doc Abu Pula and Marwan has standing warrants of arrest for various atrocities activities they have committed in the past. He said the group were responsible for the series of bombing, extortion and kidnapping incidents in the province of Sulu specifically, the 2009 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) personnel and 2008 kidnapping of Rosalie Lao, a trader.

Sulu major road projects start

By NONOY E. LACSON



JOLO, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the island-province of Sulu will start Monday, the construction of the P10-million concreting project on the Jolo-Indanan-Parang road segment.

Representative Habib Tupay Loong (1st District, Sulu) said the Jolo-Indanan-Parang road segment concreting will start from Barangay Saldang up to the town proper of Parang.

Loong said more construction of road networks under the 1st Congressional District will be undertaken early next year as part of his priority infrastructure development programs for the area.

According to Loong, peace and development in the island-province of Sulu can only be achieved through the massive implementation of the much-needed infrastructure projects and economic development programs for the people.

The lawmaker here believes that by using a formula composed of socio-economic development coupled with the needed development projects, the government can easily liberate the people here from poverty.

Earlier, Loong inaugurated two newly completed road concreting projects in Parang town, costing the national government some P15-million.

Loong first inaugurated the P5 million farm-to-market road in Barangay Bi-id, connecting Barangay Liang and Barangay Alu-Kaha in Parang, which was funded by the Department of Agriculture through the initiative of his office.

The road, he said, will allow the residents and farmers of the municipality to shorten their travel by about seven kilometers on their way to the town proper.

He said that at present, commuters and farmers will have to travel using the loop road to reach the town proper of Parang, a distance, he said, has been shortened by about seven kilometers with the completion of the Bi-id Road in the municipality.

Another road, he said, that could hasten the travel time going to the town proper is the newly completed P10-million Alu-Layag-Alu-Kaha-Bawisan Road in Barangay Alu-Layag, also in Parang.

The amount for the construction of the road, he said, was drawn from his countryside development fund.

ExxonMobil pulls plug on Sulu Sea petroleum exploration

By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo



EXXONMOBIL Exploration and Production Philippines B.V., the local unit of US oil giant ExxonMobil, has pulled the plug on the company’s petroleum exploration and development activities in the Sulu Sea. In a statement, ExxonMobil said that while it drilled four wells at the area covered by Service Contract (SC) 56 and encountered gas in three of these sites, the volume were of “non-commercial quantities.”

As such, the oil company decided to withdraw from SC 56 and resign as the operator of the project. “[ExxonMobil] will assign its interest in SC 56 to its co-venturers,” it added.

SC 56 covers an area of 8,200 square kilometers. It is located about 900 kilometers southwest of Manila and 200 kilometers northwest of Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province.

The company’s partners in the exploration block are Malaysian firm Mitra Energy and Australian mining giant BHP Billiton.

The Department of Energy initially estimated the block to contain about 750 million barrels of oil equivalent, which could supply the domestic market for a period of seven years.

Despite ExxonMobil’s pull out, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said that they do not expect investors to shy away from future oil and gas projects in the country.

“Oil and gas exploration is hit and miss which is why we want to offer more areas for better chances of success,” he said.

Banguingui starts massive mangrove planting

By NONOY E. LACSON


BANGUINGUI, Sulu, Philippines – The municipal government here has embarked on a massive planting of mangrove tress in at least three coastal areas of the municipality aimed at reviving the fish habitat and protecting the sanctuary of tropical and reef fish found in the area.

Mayor Abdulwahid Sahidulla said the local government here has entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the massive planting of mangroves.

Sahidulla said DENR has allotted some P2 million for the project that will cover some 238 hectares of idle coastal areas in this town.

He said the island municipality with an estimated coastal area of 128 hectares is the largest site to be plated with mangroves by the local government here.

The coastal villages of South Paarul and Tabialan consisting of 60 and 50 hectares, respectively, of idle coastal areas are to be planted next with mangroves, Sahidulla said.

He said some 200 sea farmers are now working with the local government by planting mangroves in identified areas in the municipality.

“We hope to complete the planting of mangroves early next month since we have enough seedlings available for planting and the number of people working,” Sahidulla said.

As this developed, Sahidulla said he is urging the local Sangguniang Bayan (SB) to adopt a resolution calling for a total ban in the cutting of mangroves in this town.

He said that once adopted, the municipal government will immediately order authorities and other concerned government agencies stationed in this town to implement the content of the resolution.

He said mangrove areas should be protected at all times since they are being utilized by tropical fish as their habitat and sanctuary in their laying eggs.

The municipal sea waters here is considered as one of areas in the Sulu Sea that is abundant with tropical and deep sea fish species, including squid of various species and sizes.

Hundreds of species can exist in a small area with a healthy reef, many of them hidden or well camouflaged or multi-colored fish, he said.

He lamented, however, that the loss and degradation of coral reefs and mangrove areas, increasing pollution, and overfishing, including the use of destructive fishing practices, are threatening the survival of the coral reefs, mangroves and, sea creatures.

ExxonMobil out of South Sulu Sea oil exploration, cites unfavorable yield

By VS, GMA News


ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Philippines B.V. said Thursday it is withdrawing from offshore service contract 56 in the South Sulu Sea, a move the Department of Energy noted is a normal option for an oil exploration company.

"ExxonMobil drilled… four wells to test a new exploration play concept. While it encountered gas in three of the four wells drilled, non-commercial quantities of gas were found and ExxonMobil will withdraw from SC 56 and resign as the operator," the company said in a statement.

The four wells cost ExxonMobil and its partners $400 million, the company said.

The Energy Department earlier said SC 56 has an estimated 750 million of oil equivalent. But ExxonMobil declined to reveal the results from its exploration wells.

ExxonMobil, which operates and holds a 50 percent majority stake in SC 56, said it "will assign its interest in SC 56 to its co-venturers."

Its partners in the service contract include Mitra Energy (Philippines) Ltd. and BHP Billiton (International Exploration Pty. Ltd.), each of which owns 25 percent in the oil exploration venture.

"That is normal," said Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras. “Oil and gas exploration is hit and miss which is why we want to offer more areas for better chances of success."

The Energy chief noted there is "no information" on whether or not Mitra and BHP Billiton will continue developing SC 56.

The service contract covers 8,200 square kilometers including the gas-rich Sandakan Basin.

ExxonMobil may still bid in the ongoing round for oil and gas exploration, Almendras said.

"That's really how exploration is, which is why the yields have to be good to recover the misses," the energy chief said.

ExxonMobile’s Sulu venture hits snag

By Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo


EXXONMOBIL Exploration and Production Philippines B.V. is reconsidering drilling activities in the Sulu Sea or notamid challenges faced by its petroleum exploration work in the area.

Department of Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug said a drilling report submitted by the US oil giant indicated “challenges” to its exploration works in the Sulu Sea.

“It depends, among Exxon, BHP and Mitra—they’re talking amongst themselves on how to proceed or whether to proceed at all on the part of Exxon. We’re reviewing their report on the review of the block,” Layug said.

The government official did not identify the contents of the report, but said Exxon may be looking for “bigger” petroleum prospects to pursue.

Exxon has operations in nearly 200 countries and territories.

Its petroleum service contract area in the Philippines, SC 56, lies in the South Sulu Sea, which is considered to be one of the most prospective areas for oil and gas exploration as indicated by the previous drilling activities and its proximity to producing sites.

The company’s partners in the exploration block are Malaysian firm Mitra Energy and Australian mining giant BHP Billiton.

SC 56 covers an area of 8,200 square kilometers and is located about 900 kilometers southwest of Manila and 200 kilometers northwest of Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province.

The consortium earlier drilled four exploration wells in the area, which showed signs of hydrocarbons, the building blocks of petroleum resources.

The DOE initially estimated the block to contain about 750 million barrels of oil equivalent, or enough to supply the domestic market for seven years.

“The likes of Exxon, Chevron, and Shell or the big companies—they always look for huge fields or reservoirs. We need to see if the Sulu Sea exploration falls within that parameter of a large oil and gas company,” Layug said.

Exxon, he said, would have to decide whether its exploration block could hold enough reserves and whether it would cost reasonable enough to develop.

“For instance, the Malampaya has 2.7 [trillion cubic feet] and is a deepwater—the consortium measured the cost between size and the cost of developing it. But most of our existing service contractors, especially in the oil side are marginal fields. We’re talking about West Linapacan, Cadlao, Nido—these are marginal fields that are developed by small oil and gas companies,” the official said.

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