Fisherfolk gathered in the Philippines to mark Earth Day and protest against government inaction on one of the country’s worst ecological disasters – an oil spill that began two months ago. The MT Princess Empress, which capsized off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, had been carrying 900,000 litres of industrial oil. Pola is seen as ground zero for the spill. The protest was hosted by the Pola mayor’s office and led by the Koalisyon ng mga Mangingisdang Apektado ng Oil Spill and groups under the banner of Protect VIP (Protect Verde Island Passage).

Fishermen from the Philippines gathered on 22 April on Pola in Oriental Mindoro to protest what they called the government’s inadequate response to a disastrous oil leak from the MT Princess Empress, which has resulted in oil spilled in coastal waters 50km away from the accident and contaminated local fish supplies. Marching under the banner of Protect VIP (Protect Verde Island Passage) and the Koalisyon ng mga Mangingisdang Apektado ng Oil Spill (KMAOS), representatives of local organisations were joined by Philippines’ Recollect Fathers, professors, journalists, actors and other environmental activists. The MT Princess Empress, which was carrying 900,000 litres of industrial oil, capsized off the coast of Naujan two months ago.