Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 21) — On the eve of Earth Day, people in Verde Island formed a “human boom” to dramatize their call for climate justice, protection of the marine hotspot, and immediate action on the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.
The oil slick reached Verde Island last March 20 but the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has already confirmed no traces of the spillage on the island and its vicinity waters.
“This human boom is a symbol of affected communities’ unity and determination in our fight to save the Verde Island Passage (VIP) from this oil spill which continues to pose threats to our health, lives, and livelihood,” Fr. Edwin Gariguez, convener of the Protect VIP coalition, said in a statement on Friday.
\”This Earth Day provides us with more fortitude to call for the protection of our common home and to call for everyone to be better stewards of the environment,\” he added.
‘4’: ‘image’: ‘jcr:8b3022b7-6f8e-4c60-b56f-78bc0f39fc09’ ‘imageCaption’: ‘Residents of Verde Island on April 21 form a “human boom” to register their calls for climate justice, protection of the marine hotspot,
Verde Island is in the so-called VIP, a marine corridor that is surrounded by Batangas, the Mindoro provinces, and Marinduque. It is considered the \”center of marine shore fish biodiversity.\”
Conservation International Philippines said the VIP provides food and livelihood to over two million people.
\”The strait is the backbone of the local economy, thriving upon coastal tourism, fisheries, and as a shipping route to the international ports of Batangas, Manila, and Subic Bay,\” it said on its website.
Protect VIP, among other advocates, is calling for legislation and policies to protect the \”ecologically fragile\” marine corridor.
\”It was an oil spill that gave birth to the annual celebration of Earth Day and it is saddening that we celebrate it this year while in the midst of one,\” Fr. Michael Flores of the Archdiocesan Ministry on Environment in Lipa was quoted as saying.
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22. It was first held on April 22, 1970, after more than three million gallons of oil spilled off the coast of Santa Barbara, California on Jan. 28, 1969. The massive marine disaster killed over 10,000 seabirds, dolphins, seals, and sea lions.
\”It is only right that the VIP comes out of this tragedy with legal protection so it doesn’t suffer this fate,\” Flores said.
MT Princess Empress, which had over 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, capsized on Feb. 28 in waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro then sank the next day.
Authorities are working to contain the spillage, with the Philippines still waiting for a siphoning machine that would be used to get the remaining oil in the submerged vessel. For now, leaks from the tanker are being bagged.
The Office of Civil Defense on Thursday said around 36 kilometers out of 47 kilometers of oil spill-affected shoreline have been cleaned up by the PCG, volunteers, and hired residents.
With thousands of fisherfolk impacted by the incident, the government is focusing on training programs for them to learn alternative livelihoods.
Also, authorities are still investigating to prepare cases against ship owner RDC Reield Marine Services.
“We want the government to move – move faster in removing the ship, stopping the spread of the spill, and providing compensation for everyone who lost their livelihood,” Gariguez said.
