The Philippines is facing an environmental disaster as an oil tanker that sank last month threatens one of the country’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. The vessel, which was carrying over 2 million litres of fuel, has already leaked some of its cargo, and the country’s authorities fear that the remaining oil could cause irreparable damage to the marine environment. With containment efforts expected to stretch on for several months, conservationists and scientists are increasingly concerned about the impact of the spill on the rich and fragile ecosystem of the Philippines. In this article, we explore the potential consequences of the oil tanker spill and the efforts underway to contain it.
An environmental disaster is currently taking place in the marine ecosystem surrounding Oriental Mindoro province in the Philippines, after the MT Princess Empress capsized carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel. One month since the catastrophe, the vessel remains underwater, yet there are concerns that oil is still leaking out. The slick has spread over 250km of sea and polluted the shores of at least three provinces, threatening over 20 marine protected areas and costing the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen. Recovery efforts are still ongoing, and as much as 36,000 hectares of marine area could be affected by the oil slick. Additionally, the disaster could have a significant and immediate economic impact, with more than 170,000 people in shoreline communities impacted by the spill, and nearly 17,000 fishermen having lost their incomes.
The Verde Island Passage is particularly vulnerable, as it is a marine reserve home to dozens of endemic species, including the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, as well as whale sharks, giant manta rays, and dugongs. It is feared the spill could lead to long-term damage and a declining population of these organisms, with the pollution endangering breeding areas and mangroves that line the shores of affected communities. Such trees play a critical role in carbon sequestration, as well as protecting the locals from extreme weather events, especially typhoons that regularly hit the Philippines.
The Philippine government has yet to take any punitive decision or action against polluters one month since the catastrophe, prompting the Philippines’ Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development to call for substantial policy reforms to ensure similar tragedies do not happen again. An investigation into accusations that the MT Princess Empress operated without a permit is underway. The Department of Justice is also building a case against the vessel’s operator, one of two companies named in the disaster, while affected communities demand transparency concerning the extent of damage from the oil spill and accountability from the vessel operator and its owners.
The response to clear the oil spill is taking time, with response teams from Japan, South Korea, and the US assisting the Philippine Coast Guard with technical expertise and specialty equipment. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said he hopes the clean-up can be completed within four months, but activists, including Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Jefferson Chua, believe this may be unlikely, given that authorities were not equipped to handle the disaster to begin with and that response efforts have dragged on. Meanwhile, buckets and shovels are not enough to remove oil from affected shorelines, given the massive scale of the spill.
The Filipino government is offering compensation to the heavily affected fishermen through a governmental program, initially intended for 14,000 participants and extended to May. However, the compensation is barely enough to cover their usual daily wage. Fishers who cannot work are being deployed to join cleanup efforts in exchange for compensation, yet for many, this is still draining their income. Fishermen are taking part in manual clean-up efforts, and the compensation is not enough to sustain them at their usual daily wage. However, Jennifer Cruz, Mayor of Pola, one of the heavily affected municipalities in Oriental Mindoro, states that the scheme is being extended and that compensation will be increased.
