[oil spill] ship rusts away, fishermen prepare class action
A fisherfolk group is preparing a class action against Petron Corp. for the oil spill in Guimaras that has affected more than 26,000 people and seen to be in danger of turning into a "catastrophe."
Well, that’s a relief. Just for one moment there was some chance they’d be out there keeping back the spill, pressing for the salvage and so on. Not a bit of it. Inspired by the giants, the Pamalakaya are taking care of the dosh first.
Fernando Hicap, national chairman of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), said the Saudi Aramco-owned oil firm should be held accountable for economic and environmental crimes.
"A class suit can be filed against Petron either in the Philippines or in any international court. Something must be done to stop a transnational giant like Petron from destroying our environment and people’s livelihood," he said.
Hicap said filing a class action against an oil firm accused of damaging an environment with millions of liters of spilled oil has so many precedents.
He cited the class action filed by Ecuadorans against Chevron Texaco in 2003, which was charged with dumping over 18 million gallons of toxic spill in the Latin-American nation between 1964 and 1992. Hicap said that in 1998 Texaco undertook a $40-million cleanup for the spill.
The Guimaras oil spill "resulted from Petron’s great rush for superprofits, nothing more, nothing less," he said. Around 26,000 Filipinos, all dependent on fishing, have been economically displaced by the oil spill.
Hicap said some 20 barangays, 6 wharves, 13 resorts, 9 fishing grounds, 4 diversities, 7 scenic views and a cave were affected by the oil spill. He said 453 hectares of mangrove and 58 hectares of seaweed plantation have been destroyed.
Raffy Ledesma, a spokesman for Petron, issued a statement.
"Our latest aerial surveillance shows there is evidence that suggests that the oil coming from the vessel has stopped. There is no oil slick near the area where the vessel sank. On the Negros side, no coastal areas have been hit by the oil spill and the reported oil sheen off the coast has been thinning.
"Nonetheless, we are gravely concerned about the possibility that the oil remaining in the vessel will continue to be released into the environment. We have engaged the services of a company that can undertake deep-sea underwater inspection and salvage operations employing the best available technology.
Our primary goal within the next few days is to determine whether and how the fuel cargo can be safely retrieved from where it is, under 640 meters of water.
"In line with our commitment to help in the containment and recovery of the oil spill, we have organized the communities in the municipality of Nueva Valencia to begin cleaning up the affected shorelines.
We have engaged more than 600 people in the municipality under a ‘cash-for-work’ scheme to help in the shoreline cleanup. Hopefully, we will be able to engage more of the local communities to expedite the cleanup.
As of August 20 we have covered nearly 12 kilometers of shoreline and collected 60 metric tons of debris. At our current rate, we expect the cleanup to be completed in 30 to 45 days. As of today, cleanup operations in two barangays in Nueva Valencia [Canhawan and Igdarapdap] have been completed.
"In coordination with the DSWD, we are contributing to the relief efforts by providing essential goods to the affected communities. We are coordinating with various foundations and groups to seek their assistance in our relief efforts and find long-term solutions.
"At sea, we have deployed equipment which includes W.I.S.E. [Waterborne Industry Spill Response] tugboats, oil spill booms, absorbent pads, oil skimmers, dispersants etc. We have four oil-spill response teams assisting in the cleanup. We have also sought the assistance of experts as well as other members of the oil industry in order to expedite the oil-spill containment and recovery.
"Petron will extend all the assistance needed to the province of Guimaras. We are committed to staying and helping in the province as long as necessary."
That was right from the horse’s mouth.
Original article by Mark Ivan Roblas, The Manila Times
Well, that’s a relief. Just for one moment there was some chance they’d be out there keeping back the spill, pressing for the salvage and so on. Not a bit of it. Inspired by the giants, the Pamalakaya are taking care of the dosh first.
Fernando Hicap, national chairman of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), said the Saudi Aramco-owned oil firm should be held accountable for economic and environmental crimes.
"A class suit can be filed against Petron either in the Philippines or in any international court. Something must be done to stop a transnational giant like Petron from destroying our environment and people’s livelihood," he said.
Hicap said filing a class action against an oil firm accused of damaging an environment with millions of liters of spilled oil has so many precedents.
He cited the class action filed by Ecuadorans against Chevron Texaco in 2003, which was charged with dumping over 18 million gallons of toxic spill in the Latin-American nation between 1964 and 1992. Hicap said that in 1998 Texaco undertook a $40-million cleanup for the spill.
The Guimaras oil spill "resulted from Petron’s great rush for superprofits, nothing more, nothing less," he said. Around 26,000 Filipinos, all dependent on fishing, have been economically displaced by the oil spill.
Hicap said some 20 barangays, 6 wharves, 13 resorts, 9 fishing grounds, 4 diversities, 7 scenic views and a cave were affected by the oil spill. He said 453 hectares of mangrove and 58 hectares of seaweed plantation have been destroyed.
Raffy Ledesma, a spokesman for Petron, issued a statement.
"Our latest aerial surveillance shows there is evidence that suggests that the oil coming from the vessel has stopped. There is no oil slick near the area where the vessel sank. On the Negros side, no coastal areas have been hit by the oil spill and the reported oil sheen off the coast has been thinning.
"Nonetheless, we are gravely concerned about the possibility that the oil remaining in the vessel will continue to be released into the environment. We have engaged the services of a company that can undertake deep-sea underwater inspection and salvage operations employing the best available technology.
Our primary goal within the next few days is to determine whether and how the fuel cargo can be safely retrieved from where it is, under 640 meters of water.
"In line with our commitment to help in the containment and recovery of the oil spill, we have organized the communities in the municipality of Nueva Valencia to begin cleaning up the affected shorelines.
We have engaged more than 600 people in the municipality under a ‘cash-for-work’ scheme to help in the shoreline cleanup. Hopefully, we will be able to engage more of the local communities to expedite the cleanup.
As of August 20 we have covered nearly 12 kilometers of shoreline and collected 60 metric tons of debris. At our current rate, we expect the cleanup to be completed in 30 to 45 days. As of today, cleanup operations in two barangays in Nueva Valencia [Canhawan and Igdarapdap] have been completed.
"In coordination with the DSWD, we are contributing to the relief efforts by providing essential goods to the affected communities. We are coordinating with various foundations and groups to seek their assistance in our relief efforts and find long-term solutions.
"At sea, we have deployed equipment which includes W.I.S.E. [Waterborne Industry Spill Response] tugboats, oil spill booms, absorbent pads, oil skimmers, dispersants etc. We have four oil-spill response teams assisting in the cleanup. We have also sought the assistance of experts as well as other members of the oil industry in order to expedite the oil-spill containment and recovery.
"Petron will extend all the assistance needed to the province of Guimaras. We are committed to staying and helping in the province as long as necessary."
That was right from the horse’s mouth.
Original article by Mark Ivan Roblas, The Manila Times
posted by James Higham @ 07:49
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