There is No Escape Editorial A - Center for Environmental Concerns

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ISSN 0117-0865
July-October 2006
PUBLISH ED BY THE C EN TER FOR EN VIRONMENT AL CONCERNS - PH ILIPPINES
There is No Escape
Editorial
The Last Frontier:
The Philippines,
Marine Ecosystems and
Biodiversity
p. 2-3
Perils and Hopes:
The Petron Oil Spill in Focus
p. 6-9
year before the tragic oil spill in the well-protected Guimaras Island,
an oil slick damaged hundreds of hectares of mangroves and shorelines in the Semirara Island in Antique. The latter did not receive as
much media attention as did the Guimaras oil spill, but the destruction of
the marine environment was likewise significant.
A
The government, however, does not appear to have learned its lesson, as it
failed to implement policies that will ensure environmental protection in the face of
capitalist interests. Regrettably, it remains negligent in implementing appropriate
environmental rehabilitation programs and punishing the culprits led by oil giant
Petron Corporation.
As such, the Guimaras oil spill continues to traumatize a lot of Filipinos, especially the fisherfolk whose lives were drastically changed by the disaster. Never in
our history have we witnessed a great devastation of our marine environment, characterized by the contamination of our treasured mangroves, seaweed farms, fish
breeding and feeding areas and coral reefs. The village people have been inflicted
with various illnesses and are now growing hungry because of the damage to
aquatic and marine resources. Indeed, it will take a long time before their lives can
return to normal again.
Please turn to page 16.
Towards
a Pro-People Program
for the Water Resources:
A Critique of GMA’s Medium
Term Development Plan
p. 10-11
Assessing Oil Spills
in the Philippines
P. 12-14
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2
he Philippines is
home to some of the
world’s richest marine ecosystems,
composed of extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds and dense
mangrove forests.
As the said biological habitats face the
perils of environmental destruction,
there is a need for
urgent and efficient
actions on the part
of the government
and the people.
T
twenty species of sea
birds, five of sea turtles and seventeen of
sea snakes also call the
Philippines their home.
Endangered
biodiversity
This rich heritage of
biodiversity, however,
is in grave danger.
Nationwide surveys
conducted since the
1970s up to the 1990s
found that 31 percent
of the total coral reefs
in the country are in
poor condition, and a
recent study of fifty
sites concluded that
coral reef area coverBountiful marine
age and reef fish
resources
abundance is rapidly
Throughout
declining.
Another
the archipelago,
international
survey
there are over
by
the
World
Re26,000 square
sources Institute in
kilometers of
2002 found
that the Philipcoral reefs, providing many indirect
Coral reefs, mangrove forests and
pines
had
the
most
degraded
reefs of all
benefits such as food, livelihood, protecsea-grass beds serve as homes for different
sampled
countries.
This
study
estimated
tion from erosion and sanctuary to numer- species of marine life forms. In the counthat
98
percent
of
Philippine
reefs
are at
ous marine life forms.
try, such habitats play a very important
risk from human activity, with 70 percent
Mangrove coverage amounted to role in maintaining ecological balance
about 120,000 hectares in 1995. A recent since the number of species to be found in placed at a high or very high risk.
Mangrove coverage area
interpretation of satellite images in
had
likewise
dwindled from around
2002 by the National Mapping and
450,000 hectares in 1918 to its preResource Information Agency
sent size of 120,000 hectares. Many
(NAMRIA) and the Forest Managemangrove forests have been conment Bureau (FMB) puts the manverted to aquaculture, salt producgrove coverage at 248,813 hectares,
tion and human settlement. Converalthough this has yet to be verified
sion to fishponds represents about
on the ground. Mangroves protect
289,000 hectares of the losses noted
coasts from storms, floods and eropreviously. The conversion of mansion and help purify water. In addigroves to fishponds results in overall
tion, they are important feeding sites
loss to productivity and fisheries
for many types of marine life forms,
production.
including tilapia, eel, crabs, shrimps
and prawns.
Fishponds also pollute mangrove
swamps
with inorganic and
Philippine marine and coastal areas are
On the other hand, sea-grass
organic
fertilizers,
chemical
toxins and
beds provide the immediate buffer neces- virtually unrivaled by any other place in
antibiotics.
In
many
cases,
fishponds
are
the world.
sary for coral reefs to protect the coasts
owned by big companies that profit at the
and mangroves from strong waves and
Philippine waters are home to
expense of small fisher folk. While the
surges and for mangroves to protect reefs 488 species of hard stony corals and sixdemands for fish and fishery products
from erosion and sedimentation. Sea-grass teen species of sea-grass. There are also
have increased throughout the years, the
beds also serve as feeding grounds for
4,706 species of fish and over two thouactual catch per unit effort (CPUE, a unit
marine turtles and the highly endangered sand species of mollusks. Over ten thouto measure fish abundance) has been dedugong. In a recent study, 978 square
sand species of other marine invertebrates clining according to the Bureau of Fisherkilometers of sea-grass beds have been
also live in Philippine waters. In addition, ies and Aquatic Resources Philippine
identified, mainly in the northwestern,
twenty-six species of marine mammals,
Fisheries Profile.
western and southern Philippines.
including the highly-endangered dugong,
The Last Frontier: The Philippines,
Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity
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In fact, Danilo Israel and Cesar
Banzon concluded in their study for the
Economy and Environment Program for
Southeast Asia that the marine fisheries
sector is already overfished, especially by
big commercial fishing corporations.
In addition, although at present
most of the fish catch go to local consumption, a large chunk of fish and fishery
products goes to other countries and this
continues to increase every year. Yet the
government continues to ask for investments in the fisheries industry, particularly from foreign companies, suggesting
a shortsightedness that does not bode well
for conservation efforts.
The Roots
One would tend to think that
most of these problems that imperil our
waters and coastal resources are caused by
communities living near the coasts and
engaged in fishing and other activities
that affect marine ecology. Improper
waste disposal and unsafe and unsustainable practices, among others, do contribute to the decline of our marine biodiversity and it is quite necessary to educate
and organize people engaged in municipal
fishing in order for them to acquire the
skills and knowledge necessary to contribute greatly to the sustainable development
of our resources.
What common fisherfolk and
people in small-scale aquatic enterprises
contribute to the degradation of our seas,
however, pale in comparison to the damage done by large-scale profit-oriented
enterprises. Large companies, many of
them foreign-funded, continue to operate
in the country without due regard to safe
and sustainable environmental practices.
3
Coastal development,
such as the
construction
of ports and
resorts, and
large-scale
commercial
fishing degrade and
even destroy
coral reefs,
mangroves
and sea-grass
beds, depriving many
marine life
forms of their
natural habitats. Add to these the increasing oil and gas explorations in deep waters especially in the Visayas and Palawan.
Pollution from coal-fired power plants,
industries, mining projects and oil spills
have also caused great negative impact on
marine ecology. A World Bank study in
2003 found that most, if not all, of the
toxic and hazardous wastes discharged
into water bodies come from industries,
especially those whose waste disposal systems are directly linked to water bodies.
Some 35% of fish catch comes
from commercial fishing while only 29%
comes from municipal, small-scale fishing.
Though these figures are close, the rate of
growth of commercial fishing entities is at
least two times faster than that of municipal fishing. Commercial fishing companies
engage in trawling and other practices
that do not discriminate against fish fit for
catching and those that are not, making
the rate of fish catch higher than the rate
it can replace itself. In addition, companies
also engage in buying and selling, oftentimes illegally, of other marine life forms
without regard to
the impacts such
an activity may
bring on marine
ecosystems and
the environment
as a whole.
These
problems are exacerbated by the
government’s
inability to impose protection
laws, in part due
to the fact that
many government
officials are also involved in the business
or are local partners of foreign companies.
Corruption is also a reason for the inability of the government to protect our marine resources. In addition, the number of
personnel engaged in environmental protection work is inadequate compared to
the sheer breadth of the job at hand.
The Challenges
If the current trends in marine
and coastal degradation do not change, it
is possible that we may face a future devoid of any marine ecosystems. Hence, the
government faces the challenge of executing programs for the preservation of the
marine resources such as promoting safe
oil transport, eco-friendly tourism and
responsible mining.
Also, there is an urgent need to
junk the laws such as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 and Mining Act of 1995 which support the liberalization of the said sectors without regard
to the harmful impact on marine resources, among other natural resources.
Such laws, among others, contain provisions which directly contradict environmental conservation principles while allowing the plunder of our natural resources.
Meanwhile, the people are tasked
to remain vigilant in demanding the
proper implementation of environmentally
-sound programs for marine resources.
The people must wage such a struggle
before they are the rich marine biodiversity is irreversibly damaged by big businesses. Only by working collectively can
the people surmount the challenges faced
by our environment and leave a strong,
vibrant and still-rich environment for the
generations to come.
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Right. The Rapu-rapu waters are home to coral reefs,
mangrove forests on the shoreline, rich sea grass beds and
even five of the world's seven known marine turtles, purple
herons, dolphins and whale sharks.
Right. In June 2005, the
Arroyo government signed a
Mineral Production Sharing
Agreement with Lafayette Philippines Inc., a wholly foreignowned subsidiary of the Australian-based Lafayette Mining
Limited, Inc.
Saving Paradise
The Rapu-rapu Struggle for Life and National Patrimony
Above. Dubbed as the Rapurapu Polymetallic Project, the
Lafayette’s mining project is
located in Barangays Malobago, Pagcolbon, and Binosawan.
Left. The project involved open pit-mining. Potential effects of excavation and ore removal include destruction of plant and animal
habitat, land subsidence, increased erosion, waste generation, heavy
metal contamination of water systems and acid mine drainage
(AMD).
Right. Lafayette’s tailings control facility, i.e. twigs,
tarpaulin and sacks, betrays what the company and
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
claimed as “state of the art” mining technology.
Lafayette’s irresponsible mining caused two mine tailings spills
on October 11 and 31, 2005 resulting to fish kills in Albay Gulf,
left and damage to residents’ health, above. Due to public outrage, Arroyo convened the Rapu-rapu Fact-Finding Commission
(RRFFC) which stated that Lafayette found the sea as “the most
convenient dumping ground” for substances of high toxic quality such as cyanide and mercury used in the mining process.
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Right and below. Representatives from the Church, academe, non-government organizations and militant groups
from all over the Bicol region launched a mobilization in
Legazpi City on June 15 to express their opposition to the
reopening of Lafayette mining operations in Rapu-rapu.
Left. The June 15 rally was convened by Sagip-Isla, AntiLafayette Mining Alliance (ALMA) in Albay, Alyansa Kontra Lafayette sa Sorsogon and UMALPAS KA (Ugnayan ng
mga Mamamayan Laban sa Pangwawasak ng Kalupaan).
The Lafayette Mining
project has faced strong resistance from the people of Rapurapu, Bicol and the country,
who have consistently opposed
mining in the island, asserted
their rights to land and resources and defended the local
island’s fragile ecosystem.
Left. Most Rev. Arturo
Bastes, bishop of diocese
of Sorsogon and head of
RRFFC, expressed disappointment at the DENR’s
decision to allow Lafayette
to operate again. Photo
from Arkibong Bayan.
Above. On July 18, the Sagip Isla, Sagip Kapwa (Save the Island,
Save the People) Rapu-rapu island-wide organization led a protest
rally in the island.
Right. To stop the Australian mining firm from pursuing a 30 day testrun, an application for Temporary Restraining Order and/or Permanent Injunction was filed at the Regional Trial Court of Makati City,
Metro Manila on July 21 by 800 people from Rapu-rapu, Albay, and
Metro Manila, including artists, lawyers, religious workers, actress ChinChin Gutierez and beauty queen Miriam Quiambao.
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noon on the 10th of August, the ship made a 10-degree tilt.
At around 4 o’clock in the afternoon just when the captain
turned right to Iloilo, the ship leaned to its side badly and its
head touched the sea. Soon enough it capsized and the
captain could only order his crew to abandon the ship.
About 17 miles southwest from Nueva Valencia, the crew
The incident, by far the largest oil spill in Philippine wa- swam to the nearest shore while the MT Solar I was left
sinking into the deep waters. All the crew except for two
ters, became a cause for
survived the tragic
grave concern as
event.
both the Filipino peo-
s far as the people of Guimaras were concerned, August 11, 2006 was a tragic day
they will never forget, as the headline news reported a massive oil spill which spread through
the beautiful marine sanctuary south of the Guimaras Island.
A
ple and the international community realized the clear peril
and devastation it
threatens to bring
about to the country.
Perils and Hopes:
The Petron Oil Spill In Focus
Later investigations revealed that
some crew members
had noted some peculiarities while the
ship was traveling. A
few noticed that the
ship’s chain locker,
which holds the anchor, was filling with
water and even felt
that the ship was
starting to tilt to its
side. However, these
were only disregarded. Furthermore,
the time of the departure was only a
day after two succes-
Initial findings of
the Board of Marine
Inquiry investigation
showed that there
have been lapses in
ensuring the safety of
the MT Solar I tanker
which figured in the
said mishap. It was
found out that the
certificate of the MT
Solar I was way past
its expiration date.
Later, it was also revealed that Norberto Aguro, the captain sive typhoons hit the country.
of the tanker, has not undergone any oil tanker training and
The MT Solar I sunk about 10 nautical miles south of
management and is not certified to navigate the ship.
Guimaras Island. According to Efren Fabila, an engineer
and environmental activist, about 200,000
A Disaster Which Could Have Been Avoided
liters of bunker fuel
were spilled off to the
The MT Solar I was a locally registered 998-ton oil
sea. The vessel is still
hauler owned by the Sunshine Maritime Corporation and
was contracted by the oil giant Petron Corporation to trans- lying 900 meters or
port 2 million liters of bunker fuel to the Western Mindanao 2,950 feet deep at the
seabed with about
Power Corporation.
450,000 gallons of oil
On the 9th of August, the tanker left Limay, Bataan and
still in nine of its ten
crossed the Visayan region to be able to reach Zamboanga
compartments. (Manila Times, Aug. 2006).
del Sur. While it was crossing the Iloilo strait at around
QUICK FACTS
An oil spill is a leakage of petroleum
from an oil tanker or other vessel. It often
refers to marine oil spills where oil is released into the ocean or coastal waters.
The fate, behavior and environmental
effects of spilled oil vary depending upon
the type and amount of material spilled.
MT Solar 1 carried bunker oil, a dense, sticky oil produced
by blending heavy residual oils with a lighter oil to meet specific
needs for thickness and pour point.
Bunker oil is used in industrial burners worldwide, as well as
in internal combustion engines of the compression-ignition type
used by certain marine vessels. Generally, it spreads out rapidly
across the water’s surface and forms a thin layer called an oil
slick.
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Serious Implications
Before the oil spill, Guimaras Island was already celebrated for its popular pristine sand beaches and rich marine
biodiversity. Its coastline measures 188.58 km long and its
waters serve as a home to a wide variety of marine animal
and plant species. Spinner, spotted, bottlenose and Risso’s
dolphins, whales, and dugongs have also been sighted off
the seas surrounding Guimaras.
According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Taklong National Marine Reserve has 29
genera of hard corals, 144 species of fish, seven species of
seagrasses and three species of mangroves. This protected marine area has been the best for breeding and
feeding almost all sorts of fishes. It has a total area of
1,143 hectares and serves as the Marine Biological Station After. Around 17,000 fishermen in the island had to find alternaof the Biological Division of the University of the Philippines tive work. The damage has reached several towns in the neighboring provinces of Negros Occidental and Iloilo.
in the Visayan region. Other marine reserves in Guimaras
are Sebaste Marine Reserve, the Nagarao, Nauai and
For all the adverse impacts of the oil spill on the enviUsusan Marine Parks and the Toyo Reef Marine Protected
ronment,
the most affected sectors in the final analysis are
Area.
the people who lost their livelihood and whose health seriously suffers up to this day. Some 254 cases of respiratory
illnesses and skin disorders were already reported last August 2006.
Actions Not Enough
At the onset of what Pres. Arroyo called a national calamity, the government created the Task Force Guimaras
as an overseeing body for the clean up of the oil spill and
the retrieval of some 1.8 million liters of fuel oil still inside
the sunken tanker.
Before. Guimaras folks relied on the bounty of the sea for their livelihood. More than 140 species of fish are spotted in the waters surrounding the island.
After the oil spill, about 239 km of the island’s shoreline
were covered with thick oil and grease. The affected mangrove area measures 1,128 hectares while destroyed seaweed farms have reached 58 hectares. According to NDCC
in August 2006, the oil spill has affected three of the five
municipalities of Guimaras. Among the barangays, Brgy. La
Paz suffered the most. The oil spill has even reached two
municipalities in Iloilo and another in Negros Occidental. As
the oil continues to dissipate in the Guimaras Strait, the
other two municipalities of Guimaras are threatened, including the twenty-nine barangays in Iloilo and nineteen
barangays in Negros Occidental. Other marine reserves
and parks may still be affected.
Generally, oil contamination hinders the growth of phytoplanktons, a source of food for marine life. Oil can clog
the gills of fishes, restraining them from feeding, growth
and reproduction and increasing their susceptibility to diseases. The tissues of clams, oysters and other shells become swollen. Oil on coral reefs also decreases the colonization of corals.
This was composed of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Transportation and Communication, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Energy and Department of Health.
Please turn to next page.
In limbo. More than 1,000 workers were hired by Petron for
P300 per day for the clean up operations. Residents report, however, that the hiring and paying were marked by irregularities.
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Last October, Petron aborted its 45-day operation after
declaring a successful clean up operation in some of the
barangays in Nueva Valencia. But Petron is still being held
accountable for this major mishap. Even the Task Force
chair Rafael Coscolluela thinks that Petron still has to help
in the clean up operations.
The P42 million Oil Pollution Compensation Fund for
the fishermen is still on hold, while affected fishermen still
have to file claims in order to qualify for such compensation. According to Coscolluela, only about 13,000 claims
were approved from a total 17,000 claims filed. Meanwhile, the national fisherfolk federation Pambansang
Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas
(PAMALAKAYA) continues to urge Petron to pay a total of
P10 billion in compensation for the damages caused by
the oil spill.
Center for Environmental Concerns Chairperson Dr.
Damaged mangroves. An assessment report from Silliman Univer- Aloysius Baes who has conducted related studies on oils
sity 19 days after the spill placed the potential annual losses from spills in Japan in the 1990s, said that in the absence of acfishery products due to damage to mangroves at 30 million pesos. tive efforts to scientifically remove the spill in affected areas, followed by bioremediation, the area would take more
than a hundred years to fully recover. Meanwhile the peoMeanwhile the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
suspended the certificate of the Sunshine Maritime Corpo- ple are in grave risk of toxic contamination.
ration and grounded the other tankers MT Solar II and III.
However, Baes stressed that the most urgent
Furthermore, the seafarer’s identification and qualification
question is what to do with the sunken vessel or with the
certificates of the officials and crew of the MT Solar I were remaining 1.8 million liters of oil still in it.
suspended by MARINA.
Clean up operations were already underway. Some 63
drums of chemical dispersants were used and about 2,339
sacks of debris were collected in August. It was reported
that clean up operations have been accomplished in the
barangays of Lacmayan, Igdarapdap and San Antonio in
Nueva Valencia. More than 1,000 workers were hired by
Petron for worth P300 per day for the clean up operations.
Some 60 metric tons of debris were collected. The estimated cost of the clean up operations amounts to P2.2 million.
These initial actions, however, are not enough to undo
the damage caused by the oil spill, and the clean up operations still have a lot to accomplish. Four areas in Guimaras
and two in Iloilo identified by DENR Regional Director
Julian Amador needs to be checked again. Until now, oil
and grease covers the coastal areas of Nueva Valencia.
The amount of oil and grease in these areas has decreased to 10-20 milligrams per liter from the 250 milligram
per liter during the onset of the oil spill. The actions must
be speedy, because as time passes, grease sticks more
and more to the rocks and mangroves.
Alternative livelihood. At first, Petron’s hired workers were paid
P100 daily, without the necessary protective gear. It was only later
that boots, gloves, and cleaning pads were provided to the workers,
upon warnings from the Department of Health.
QUICK FACTS
An assessment released by the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as of September 1
revealed that the following were badly affected:
The damage to the mangroves, coral
reefs, seagrasses, and estuaries—which are
fish habitats—would cost Guimaras P8.3 billion worth of services.
The tourism sector may lose an estimated
seagrass: 12 hectares mangroves: 431.5 hectares
P652.2 million this year because of the tragcorals: 30 hectares
seaweeds: 58 hectares
edy.
coral reef: 15.8 sq. km. fishponds: 823.5 hectares
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Meanwhile, some government officials seem to have
easily forgotten the grave damage that the oil spill wrought.
In an article featured in Guimaras Oil Spill News and
Views, it was reported that Petron allegedly offered bribe
money to some provincial board members to hold down
pressures for them to address the issue. It has also reportedly spent public relations (PR) money to sanitize coverage
of the oil spill.
The Fight Goes On
Marine life affected. Sea creatures exposed to crude oil become
unfit for sale by acquiring oil-derived substances in tissues which
impart unpleasant colors and flavors.
In the face of sluggish government response, residents,
barangay officials and church groups throughout Guimaras
have taken it upon themselves to unite and work for the
salvaging of the tanker, the rehabilitation of the affected
areas, compensation for the victims of the oil spill, and ac-
“The option of pumping out the oil in a sunken vessel is
associated with many risks. The more appropriate procedure is to surface the sunken vessel as soon as possible,
given the likely complications that will occur with the impending shift in the monsoon winds that would widen the
area affected should there be a massive spillage of the remaining oil in the tanker,” he opined.
However, the government has sunk into complacency
after the partial removal of oil debris from the coastlines. To
date, the sunken vessel which continues to discharge its
cache of oil at the bottom of the sea has not been retrieved
from the waters. About 30 percent of the oil sludge remains
at the shores of Nueva Valencia.
What Coscolluela only assures the public is that the
government can think of appropriate measures should
there be greater volume of oil leakage, claiming that the
recovery operation will be finished by March 2007.
Impact on health. Residents diagnosed with signs and symptoms
related to the oil spill already swelled to 1,855 persons – 1,776 in
Guimaras and 79 in Iloilo province.
countability on the part of Petron.
According to Antonio Chan, president of Parish Pastoral Church, they are saddened to hear statements that
the Guimaras oil spill is already resolved. Yet this does not
deter the residents of Guimaras from their quest for environmental justice. They continue to call for the boycott of
Petron products in order to push Petron into completing the
clean up operations in the affected areas. Church and environmental groups have also issued a manifesto demanding
the total clean up of the oil spill by Petron.
Living on rations. Residents depend on the government and private donors for food. One six-member family usually receives 7.5
kilograms of rice and six cans of sardines as ration for three days.
As such efforts indicate, the quest to save their lives
and seas shall be waged by the people of Guimaras in the
days to come. Through such concerted efforts in the courts
and in the streets, the people will see to it that Petron will
not get away from its obligations to the people. They are
even prepared to fight in courts and in the streets. They
shall collectively bring forth hope for their beloved island.
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10
Towards a Pro-People Program
for the Water Resources:
Critique of GMA’s Medium Term Development Plan
Editor’s note: This article is part of
MTDP, State of the Nation Address
(SONA) 2006 and the Philippine Environment , a paper published by CECPhils. in anticipation of GMA’s SONA
last July. For this issue on Oil Spills,
we are reprinting only the introduction
and specific discussion on the implications of MTDP on freshwater, coastal
and marine resources. The full article
may be accessed in our website,
www.cec.org.
figures in the MTDP and its actual implementation.
This assessment in time for the
SONA 2006 is a tacit recognition of
lopsided priorities in economic
growth, and an attempt to explain why
genuine development and protection
of our patrimony are far-fetched in the
administration under GMA.
The true state of the Philippine
environment
The Philippine environment is our
o we fare better with two
entire
natural world on which depends
years of the Medium Term
an exchange of biological, physical and
Development Plan (MTDP 2004chemical factors through ecological
2010)? After dismissing the Philipprocesses. These processes ensure but
pine environment in the past two
affect the flow of energy, materials and
State of the Nation Addresses
information across communities, spe(SONAs), will the SONA 2006 of- cies and ecosystems – traversing our
fer a promising or sorry state?
small but archipelagic formation with
With the bounty of our natural
unique land forms and bodies of waresources considered as the driver of
ter.
economic growth, it is apt to review
No less than the Department of
how the Philippine environment truly Environment and Natural Resources
D
reiterated the country’s abundance in
its resources, but it also presented a
dismal assessment of the status of the
Philippine environment. Day-to-day
realities in its multifarious aspects confirm the true state of the environment.
Freshwater resources are similar to
coastal and marine ecosystems which
are all crucial in the water cycle but
they are also habitats of species of
plants and animals that are for our survival.
The country has bountiful freshwater resources. Four hundred twenty
one principal rivers, 69 lakes, over
100,000 hectares of freshwater swamps
and four major groundwater reservoirs
astride four major river basins have a
combined total area of about 50,000
square kilometers. Water for domestic
and industrial use as well as riparian
species are ideally ensured.
Yet, the freshwater sources have
very poor status. None of the water in
158 major rivers is safe for drinking.
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Sixteen rivers have been classified as
biologically dead, while 51% of all water bodies classified by the EMB are
polluted and do not meet effluent standards. There are 140 priority watersheds reported to be degraded, indicative of the seriousness of the forestry
sector.
Water for domestic use is not accessible to 35% of Filipinos especially
in urban areas, except in a highly privatized set up. Even freshwater for
irrigation cannot be ensured by the
government for the agricultural communities.
Neglect of the watersheds because
of extractive industries like mining and
logging is the most serious cause of
this status, worsened by mismanagement and local landlords as well as
businessmen in commercial fisheries
and tourism.
Direct waste dumping into rivers
and other bodies of water is considered as the primary cause of water pollution. Although, according to EMB
studies, domestic waste comprise the
bulk of sediment load in water bodies
and river systems, industrial and agribusiness wastes and large-scale extractive activities like mining,
logging and dam construction more
permanently damage freshwater resources.
Coastal and marine ecosystems,
meanwhile, are the important sources
of livelihood for as much as 70% of
municipalities (80% of the Philippine
territory), the base of inter-island exchanges in aquatic products as well as
tourism, and habitats (like coral reefs
and mangroves) of many species.
Serious threats in these ecosystems
are poaching by big fishing companies
that include foreigners, destructive
fishing, and tourism. As much as 32%
of the coral reefs are already poor
(with 0-25% cover) and 44% are presently under high threat from sedimen-
11
tation, destructive fishing methods,
pollution and coastal infrastructure
development (Sec. E. Gozun, 3rd Public Lecture Series, UP Diliman, March
2004). Biodiversity losses are indicated
by reduced sea grass 50%) and mangroves (73%) as critical habitats.
The extent of environmental degradation nationwide has fast brought
the freshwater, coastal and marine resources as urgent environmental concerns.
These resources are also the targets
of GMA’s recent Executive Order No.
533 in 2006 which adopts an Integrated
Coastal Management (ICM). Yet, the
same coastal resources to be enhanced
for sustainable livelihood and protection are the competitors of toxic
wastes, eroded soils and waste dumps
from the officially supported extractive
industries of foreign and local monopoly corporation.
Effects on the Filipino people
Majority of the Filipino people are
seriously disadvantaged by an economic growth through large scale mining by foreign companies, privatized
energy sector, and elite-controlled
enterprise development.
Forests are denuded and soils are
eroded when cleared for industrial
operations. Watersheds are degraded
by mine tailings and dumped wastes.
Rivers, coasts and marine waters get
contaminated by toxic wastes. Plants
and animals on which we survive are
lost. As a result, communities have
damaged health, destroyed livelihoods
and shattered lives.
As much as 80% of Filipino households are marginalized in the privatized use and control of freshwater,
coastal and marine resources by foreign and local businessmen.
Companies extract and supply water alone, with no regard for watershed
management. They extract energy for
commercial distribution, with no regard for upland forests and marine
resources. Aquatic species are overharvested for export, regardless of
fish-kills, poaching and destructive
practices. Fisherfolks have declining
catch for their own subsistence.
Degraded environments in the rural areas push poor households to eke
short-term and unstable livelihood
sources and employment, even in
over-extractive and harmful industries.
Foreign monopoly control and
dominance by the local political elite
push many Filipinos to bargain for
their sustenance. Marginalized in the
present reality, Filipinos persist to survive despite the deteriorating economic difficulties. Worse, unstable settlements result in urban sprawl and
congestion where air and water quality
are grossly going downhill.
These effects of the GMA administration on the Philippine environment
are worsening. The 10-point legacy
foretells a grim situation, with devastated ecosystems that will not sustain
any growth, despite the legalese of the
MTDP or the SONA.
“Companies extract and supply water alone, with no regard for watershed management. They extract energy for commercial distribution, with no regard for upland forests and marine resources…”
FEED BACK
12
n a country of archipelagic
characteristics – with one of
the longest coastlines in the world
amounting to 36,289 square kilometers and more than seven thousand
islands – sea vessels provide a significant means of transportation.
This makes the Philippines vulnerable to oil spills which greatly affect
the marine ecosystems and the lives
of the people. Sadly, the Philippine
government has not implemented a
concrete policy for oil spill
prevention and rehabilitation.
Until the Guimaras oil spill
occurred, little did the Filipinos
know that in the country, maritime authorities allow hazardous
petroleum products to be
shipped in decrepit, secondhand tankers,
smuggled or
transferred to
another vessel at
mid-sea. Moreover, it has not
promulgated
laws regarding
proper oil shipment and for
penalizing entities responsible
for oil spills.
South harbor alone there have been
eight counts of oil spills. Further, in
the said 11-year period, there have
been 12 occurrences of oil spill involving a volume of 203,366 liters and 28
barrels.
Meanwhile, Pasig River, a major tributary leading to the Manila
Bay, is one of the most passed rivers.
There have been 16 incidents of oil
spills in this river, consisting of a total
volume of 17,300 liters contributing
Vector with thousands of gallons of
petroleum collided with passenger
liner MV Doña Paz in the waters near
Marinduque, killing at least 4,000 passengers and crew. Upon inquiry of the
Philippine Coast Guard, it was found
out that the tanker may have traveled
without navigational lights making it
difficult for the passenger ship to detect the tanker on radar.
In March 1999, almost 110,000
gallons of oil were spilled on around
79 acres when oil tanker
Sea Brothers I crashed into
the raging waters of Manila
Bay injuring the seven crew
members. It was reported
that the ship collided with
two Petron tankers.
This 29year-old Sulpicio
Lines-owned ship
named Princess
of the Orient
was pounded by
the ravaging sea
on the 19th of
September 1998.
It came from
Cebu and as it
arrived in Manila
Bay it became
vulnerable to
the strong winds
and typhoon.
Oil Slick at the
Most of the oil it
Bay
carried spilled to
Manila
the Manila Bay
Bay, one of the
and about 51
finest natural
people were reharbors in the
ported dead.
world, is not
More
new to such spills. With an entrance
to its filth and blackness.
recently, last December 18, 2005, the
width of 19 to 48 kilometers, it serves
Power Barge 105 of the National
as the port of Manila on Luzon that
Ship mishaps and oil spills
Power Corporation carrying 800,000
stretches to provinces like Bataan,
Incidents involving ship mishaps
liters of bunker fuel ran aground 200
Cavite, Pampanga and Bulacan.
contribute largely to the pollution of meters off the shores of Sitio Bobog,
From 1990 to 2001, there have
the bodies of water with oil discharge Semirara Island in the municipality of
been 26 accounts of sea-based oil
volumes reaching as high as 200,000 Caluya in Antique. Some 210,000 lispills in Manila Bay and its tributaries. to 747,000 liters, per incident. These ters were spilled and affected 113
Being two of the busiest ports, the
involve MT Mary Anne, MV Princess of hectares of shoreline and 236 hecSouth and North Harbors of Manila Bay the Orient and the MT Fernando J-1.
tares of mangroves.
Please turn to page 14.
have been very prone to oil spills. In
In 1987, for example, the MT
I
Assessing Oil
Spills
FEED BACK
13
Table 1. List of Oil Spills in the Philippines(1990-2006)*
Source
Date
Oil Product Spilled
Area Affected
Quantity
MT Fernando J-1
24 Jan 1990
Industrial fuel oil
Lamao. Limay, Bataan
200,000 liters
MV Al Taludi
2 Aug 1990
Bunker oil
Manila
2,100 liters
Bataan Refinery
22 Oct 1990
Bunker oil
Limay, Bataan
5 barrels
MV Carlota
8 Mar 1991
Oily water
Mariveles, Bataan
1,050 liters
MT Ivy
5 Apr 1991
Industrial fuel oil
Lamao, Limay, Bataan
20 barrels
Mt Nazal-I
20 Dec 1991
Auto diesel
Pier 8, Manila
10,500 liters
SeaOil Petroleum
2 Sept 1992
Bunker oil
Manila
420 liters
MT Bacolod City
22 Sept 1992
Bunker oil
Manila
100 liters
PBRC
19 Apr 1994
Bunker oil
Limay, Bataan
420 liters
Petro Queen
8 Aug 1994
Bunker oil
Manila Bay
670 barrels
Discovery Industrial
Corp.
13 Aug 1994
Bunker oil
Pasig River
600 liters
MV Cebu City
2 Dec 1994
Bunker oil
Manila Bay
3,000 liters
Allied Thread Co.
11 Jan 1995
Bunker oil
Marikina River
400 liters
Rockwell Asahi
Glass
Puyat Steel Corp
17 Jan 1995
Bunker oil
Pasig River
63,000 liters
3 Mar 1995
Bunker oil
Pasig River
70 liters
MT Pandi
12 May 1995
Industrial fuel oil
Limay, Bataan
500 liters
MV Wilcon X
22 Sept 1995
Bunker oil
Pier 18, Manila
2,000 liters
MT Pacific Leader
22 July 1996
Crude oil
Limay, Bataan
76 liters
MT Malinao
4 Aug 1996
Industrial fuel oil
Limay, Bataan
3 barrels
SeaOil Petroleum
8 Aug 1996
Bunker oil
Pasig River
400 liters
MV Badger
14 Aug 1996
Bunker oil
North Harbor
38 liters
OTC Barge Brazil
3 June 1997
Oily mixture
Pasig River
800 liters
MV Princess of the
Orient
21 Sept 1998
Bunker oil
Corregidor
500,000 liters
MT Sea Brothers I
19 March 1999
Bunker oil
South Harbor, Manila
420 tons
MT Mary Anne
1 June 1999
Bunker oil
Limay, Bataan
747 tons
MT Christian Alber
4 Jan 2000
Bunker oil
400 liters
MV NOL Schedar
2 Feb 2000
Industrial fuel oil
Pier 4, South Harbor,
Manila
Lingayen Gulf
People’s Technological Complex
MV Island Explorer
10 June 2001
Bunker oil
Carmona-Biñan River
800 liters
19 January 2004
Bunker fuel
Apo Manor Reef
80,000 liters
Power Barge 105
18 Dec 2005
Bunker fuel
210,000 liters
MT Solar I of Petron
Corp.
11 Aug 2006
Bunker oil
Semirara Island, Antique
Iloilo Strait
10,000 liters
500,000 liters
* sources: Philippine Coast Guard Report, 2000; Oil Spill History from http://www.marinergroup.com/oil-spill-history.htm
14
Last
November,
congressmen
passed the bill
that would
enforce international rules
that will make
ship owners
accountable
for the damages of the oil
spills, and
ensure fast
Oil Spill Bill
and sufficient
Despite the long and misercompensation
able history of oil spills in the Philip- for the afpine waters, only following the Guifected parties. This bill also obligates
maras oil spill, regarded by the inter- haulers of oil in the country to connational community as the worst oil
tribute to the International Oil Polluslick the country has ever had, did
tion Compensation Fund (IOPC Fund)
President Arroyo finally certify an oil which covers for admissible claims. It
spill prevention bill as urgent.
also prohibits ships loaded with more
According to Pres. Spokesper- than 2,000 tons of oil to enter the
son Ignacio Bunye, the House Bill 4363 Philippine waters without valid finanor the Oil Pollution Compensation Act cial securities.
would impose strict maritime regulations and facilitate the acquisition of The Truth
modern facilities to do clean ups.
Investigations by concerned
environmental
groups point
out to the
negligence,
corruption
and mismanagement in
the government and
irresponsibility on the
part of
Petron as
the cause of
the Guimaras tragedy.
FEED BACK
continued from page 12
Fifty-six hectares of the 236
were the mangrove project of the
Semirara Mining Corporation while 80
hectares of reforested mangroves
were administered by the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). The 100 hectares were naturally grown mangroves. Clean up was
facilitated through dispersants, but
until now, scientists report that the
oil sludge has not been completely
removed.
The Arroyo administration’s
responses which were but palliative
ones, including a declaration that Guimaras is in a state of calamity, and
delivering relief goods to the suffering
people reveal the lack of sincerity on
the part of the government in seriously addressing the issue of corporate liability.
Until now, the sunken tanker
has not been recovered from the
ocean’s depths. People are still hungry, with their main source of livelihood damaged by the spill. The oil
slick remains in the affected area,
subsequently affecting the safety of
food sources as the contamination of
biological food chain is proceeding.
More importantly, Petron, Sunshine
Maritime Corporation and government
agencies responsible for the oil spill
have not been held accountable for
their action and neglect.
In the end, it would take a
government with the political will,
and a group of united, determined
people, to eventually punish culprits
of environmental disasters and promote genuine environmental protection and rehabilitation.
“Despite the long and miserable history of oil spills in the Philippine waters, only
following the Guimaras oil spill, regarded by the international community as the
worst oil slick the country has ever had, did President Arroyo finally certify an oil
spill prevention bill as urgent.”
FEED BACK
15
Save our Lives, Save our Seas!*
A DECLARATION OF UNITY
We bonded ourselves and unite to extend support, in whatever form, for our beloved brothers and sisters whose lives and
daily economic activities have been devastated by the M/T Solar 1 Oil Spill in the Island of Guimaras and affected others coastal
areas of Panay and Negros Occidental.
We recognize the urgent need to extend relief assistance to the affected families since fishing as their livelihood is already
gone. The oil slick has already damaged a variety of aquatic and marine resources, economically displacing the small fisherfolks
who are dependent on fishing activities. Panay Gulf and other bodies of water reached by the oil sludge are known to be rich fishing
grounds in the archipelago.
Hence, we call on the people responsible for this worst oil spill in the history of the country to be held liable for the damages. We hold Petron and SMDC liable for this oil spill. Their effort to maximize their super profits placed the lives of people and
the environment in peril. Petron amassed a whooping P2.7B in the first six months of this year as their net income. But, it is still
capable of hiring oil tankers that are substandard and converted vessels to transport huge volume of bunker fuel. On the other hand,
it also took days for them to immediately and properly respond for the containment of the oil spill that continuously wreak havoc to
the lives of the people in Guimaras, Iloilo Province and Negros Occidental. Worst, there is no definite time for the immediate retrieval of the sunken vessel that still have 90% of its 2M liters bunker fuel cargo which continue to spew fuel to the sea at a rate of
200-250 liters per hour, moving at 0.5 miles a day.
The Philippines under the Arroyo dispensation must also be accountable for this tragic accident. As early as 1993 international law required the immediate phase out of single –hulled oil tankers and only double-hulled tankers be allowed to ship heavy
grade oil such as bunker fuel to prevent oil pollution. M/T Solar 1 is a single-hulled oil tanker and is very vulnerable to oil spill accidents yet the Arroyo government allowed it to transport oil and ply the Philippine seas. The Philippine government as member of
International Maritime Organization (IMO), an international body who legislate international maritime laws for the protection of
marine environment and human lives has the crucial responsibility to strictly implement international laws to prevent sea accidents
and marine pollution
such as oil spill.
We are also dismayed of the snail –paced and lax response of the Arroyo government for this crisis. It almost took more
than a week for the Arroyo government to set up a task force and allocate P20M for immediate relief and clean up. Mrs. Arroyo
should have immediately responded the emergency call instead of relying to local government and agencies which are not well
equipped in responding to such disaster. The government doesn’t have the emergency disaster contingency plan for oil spill accident
knowing that the Philippines is an archipelagic country and 90% of its goods are transported by sea.
We therefore commit ourselves for the following immediate and long term solutions for the relief and rehabilitation of the
victims and the prevention of more oil spills in the future.
1. The Arroyo government, Petron and SMDC must give more funds for the immediate relief assistance to all the affected
families
2. Medical assistance and other health preventive measures must be provided to those who were affected by the oil spill.
3. Immediate actions to solve the threat of more oil spills from the remaining bunker fuel of the sunken M/T Solar I to prevent
further environmental damages, economic devastation and loss of lives.
4. The Petron and SMDC shoulder the expenses for clean up operations and provide protective gears and health insurances to
those involved in the clean-up.
5. The Arroyo government must immediately and strictly implement international maritime laws for shipping companies to
prevent more oil pollution and other sea accidents that damage human lives and marine resources.
6. Petron and SMDC must shoulder the expenses for the rehabilitation and indemnification efforts of the affected population.
*SAVE OUR LIVES, SOS Panay and Guimaras is a broad alliance of of nongovernment organizations, scientists, academe, legislators, artists, students, medical
students and practitioners, church people and local communities who joined hands and
committed themselves in addressing the issues caused by the Guimaras oil spill.
Member organizations: Madiaas Ecological Movement (MEM). Provincial
Councilors’ League (PCL) – Iloilo Chapter. Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). Ilonggo
Concerned Artists for the Environment (I-CARE). Alliance of Health Workers (AHW).
Asian Medical Students Association (AMSA). Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).
Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR)– Panay & Guimaras. Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan (KASIMBAYAN). Filamer Christian College (Roxas City). Center
for Relief, Rehabilitation, Education & Economic Development (CRREED). Y-Defend.
Migrante. PAMALAKAYA. Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan (AGHAM). Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC). Kalikasan People’s Network for Environment (KPNE). People’s Response for the Protection of the Environment (PROTECT). Western Visayas Ecumenical Council (WVEC). Taga-ATON Cultural Artists Radio Mindanao Network – Iloilo.
Artista kag Manunulat nga Makibanwahanon (AMBON). John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation.
FEED BACK
16
Editorial continued from page 1
It took the Arroyo government a week to take actions
regarding the spill, which included an order to form a task
force and a statement placing the Guimaras Island in “a state
of calamity.” Following the investigations, the MT Solar I
captain and the crew members were suspended, while the
other tankers of Sunshine Maritime Corporation have been
prohibited from all operations. Petron promised to give compensations to the fishermen, and to initiate the clean up operations which are targeted to be finished by March 2007.
Arroyo, for her part, promised that it will never happen
again, as if the tragic story ends there.
Make a difference!
In line with CEC’s renewed stress on its volunteer program, the Center for Environmental ConcernsPhilippines is inviting all interested parties an individuals
to become CEC volunteers.
If you are looking for
...opportunities to directly witness and be of service to
environmentally stressed communities
...opportunities to develop you knowledge on the environment and hone your skills in research, education, community development and the like
...ways to help educate the greater public on the issues
of the environment and find appropriate solutions to
pressing problems
...ways to help mobilize resources and other people in
the work for the protection and regeneration of the environment
...Be a CEC volunteer and make a difference!
Interested parties may contact Peter Benaires or Mike
Llanes through email: cecphils@gmail.com or via telephone no. (02) 920-9099.
Not surprisingly, the government has been trying to
evade the question regarding its culpability for the tragedy. It
must be noted, however, that what transpired in Guimaras is
a result of the government’s faulty economic policies which
do not prioritize the interests of the people. Remarkably, it is
only after the Guimaras oil spill that a law is being legislated
to ensure the protection of our marine environment and hold
the big multinational corporations liable whenever a spill
occurs. This, despite the fact that the Philippines is prone to
such incidents.
In the end, the tragedy in Guimaras island is a manifestation of what the government prioritizes: the interest of
big foreign businesses – including oil cartels – which have
little concern as to the environmental impact of their activities. Under its policies of deregulation, privatization and liberalization, such companies have gained much political–
economic leverage such that an oil spill is dealt with in a
manner that forgives and forgets the serious crime Petron has
committed.
But the people must not and shall not let these culprits escape. Justice will be served, so long as the people
unite in the struggle for the environment, which is also a
struggle for freedom from capitalist greed.
FEED BACK
CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS-PHILIPPPINES
P.O. Box 1212-1152, QCCPO
Quezon City, Philippines
Feedback is a quarterly publication of the Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines (CEC-Phils.)
CEC-Philippines is a non-government organization promoting people-oriented environmental education, research and
volunteer work among the masses and for the masses of the Filipino people. CEC holds office at 26 Matulungin St.,
Central District, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. No: (632) 924-8756. Telefax: (632) 920-9099. Email: cecphils@gmail.com. Website: www. cec.org