The Verde Island Passage (VIP), often hailed as the “Amazon of the Oceans” for its unmatched marine biodiversity, should be one of the Philippines’ most fiercely protected marine corridors. Instead, it remains a high-risk zone for maritime pollution, underscored by the 2023 oil spill that devastated coastal communities and marine ecosystems.
Two years after the MT Princess Empress sank off the coast of Naujan, Mindoro, spilling 900,000 liters of industrial oil, the question remains: Why does the VIP remain so vulnerable to disasters like this?
The Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) reported that the MT Princess Empress sinking, owned by RDC Reield Marine Services and chartered under an agreement, caused Php 41.2 billion in environmental and socio-economic damages. To this day, the effects of the oil spill persist, with fisherfolk communities continuing to suffer from its lasting impact and other developments that threaten their livelihood.
Communities and environmental advocates remain concerned as the Verde Island Passage (VIP) remains one of the country’s busiest shipping lanes and a focal point for fossil fuel developments—particularly with ongoing plans to expand fossil gas infrastructure.
Batangas, which sits along the passage, currently hosts five operational gas power plants, two LNG terminals, and over a dozen proposed gas and LNG projects.
“Two years have already passed, but the ocean still hasn’t regained its vitality. Compared to our catch before the oil spill, our income as fisherfolk significantly declined. Especially now, we are worried that commercial vessels might enter the 15-km municipal waters, which should be reserved for small-scale fishers,” said Koalisyon ng mga Mangingisda Apektado ng Oil Spill (KMAOS) president Aldrin Villanueva.
In response, Protect Verde Island Passage (Protect VIP) is urging government agencies to implement long-term recovery plans for the biodiverse marine corridor and affected communities, while taking steps to prevent future fossil fuel-related pollution in the area.
The threats facing the Verde Island Passage will be among the key topics at the 77th Session of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in Switzerland, where the Philippines will undergo a review as a party to the ESCR covenant.
“Allowing fossil gas and other destructive operations in the Verde Island Passage is an injustice to the millions of Filipinos who rely on it for a living. It is also an injustice to Filipinos as a whole, whose climate and ecological vulnerabilities are exacerbated by the increasing use of fossil fuels despite the availability of clean energy from renewables,“ said CEED Executive Director Gerry Arances.
The aftermath of the MT Princess Empress sinking still lingers. Should fossil fuel expansion continue in the VIP? Share your powerful thoughts at Power Philippines.
There are no comments
Add yours