24 April 2012

Social Accountability in Oil and Gas Exploration


by Emy Perez

With the Philippine government poised to award oil and gas exploration contracts in July, can Social Accountability frame the engagement?

Mining has dominated the discourse on Extractive Industries in the Philippines for some time now.  The social, environmental, health issues are palpable because the operations are in communities.

It is quite different with oil and gas, that operate mostly offshore, at a distance that communities may hardly see or feel the impact on their lives and their resources.  ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ is a convenient alibi for not engaging communities; it may also be the reason for civil society organizations not participating in the discussions.  Or, simply, that there had not been a platform for participation.