City drops oil spill suit

By Limuel S. Celebria

 

Early this week, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas announced that “I am satisfied” with the AC Energy Philippines (ACEPh) response to the oil spill that occurred off the shores of Bo. Obrero following an explosion that spilled some 260,000 liters of bunker fuel into the waters.  Moreover, Treñas also said the city government is scaling back on an earlier plan to file a suit for damages against the company on condition that ACEPh provide compensation to the victims.

Among other things, Treñas appeared gratified by the company’s quick response to the accident, immediately taking care of the medical and other needs of the displaced residents to the extent of providing them shelter in three of Iloilo City’s top star hotels, after Covid 19 concerns were raised.  ACEPh also went all out in its efforts to mitigate the impact of the oil spill on local communities and the environment, immediately undertaking procedures which led to the containment of the spill at 10PM on the same day, a company report said. Around 170 personnel from the company, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Petron Corp. and Global Power Corp. were deployed, and oil skimmers and multilayered spill booms were immediately mobilized to facilitate the immediate containment and clean-up efforts.

Also, the company engaged Harbor Star, a leading maritime service provider, to assist in the clean-up of both coastal shores and offshore oil recovery with the inlet areas receiving top priority, followed by the coastal shores, and then offshore areas to recover and disperse the oil sheens at sea.   At the same time, over 900 volunteers from different barangays were engaged to assist in shore clean-up activities and provide assistance to the affected communities. It is estimated that upwards of 95 percent of the total volume of spilled bunker fuel has been recovered thus far.

The city government should be on the right track to let the issue of damage compensation be handled through arbitration or extra-legal means where the company, the victims, and other aggrieved parties can come to a mutually acceptable recompense. A lawsuit, as contemplated by certain sectors, is completely counter-productive simply and primarily because litigation is a long process and it may take years before any of the victims can receive what is due them. Besides, the legal option is a minefield open to exploitation by political carpetbaggers and other opportunists.

I distinctly recall the tragic Guimaras oil spill 14 years ago which – apart from putting the island and its people to its knees — sprung many sharks and freebooters who distributed forms and solicited signatures for alleged damage compensation. Because of this, the number of claimants ballooned to such incredible proportions it was said to exceed the actual population of Guimaras Island at the time. It took time before the mess can be sorted out.

Clearly, a class suit or any other legal action where any Tom and Jerry could sign the petition leaves the door wide open for a similar travesty to take place.

Aside from willingness to provide compensation to the victims, Mayor Trenas said ACEPh is ready to extend other forms of assistance for the repair and rehabilitation some school buildings in Lapuz district and to donate, as well, materials and equipment to assist students cope with the new normal in education – distance learning.

Close to 90 hectares of mangroves were affected by the oil spill. To determine the oil spill’s impact on the affected areas, it was reported that ACEPh brought in some experts, third party marine scientist consultants from AECOM, who are conducted their own investigation, assessments, trajectory modeling and environmental impact studies. The AECOM, according to its webpage, is a Manila-based think-tank “providing local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence with global reach to deliver solutions that create, enhance and sustain the world’s built, natural, and social environments.”

ACEPh’s goal is to come up with a DENR-acceptable environmental management plan focusing on: water quality, air quality, collection and disposal of contaminated materials, and rehabilitation of affected mangrove areas.

ACEPh is working closely with DENR and foremost mangrove experts on the proper treatment of contaminated areas.  ACEPh said it will engage in a longer-term rehab program for mangroves and vowed go beyond mangroves that were affected.

It took several years for Guimaras to fully recover from the effects of the oil spill that maimed its environment and populace. But the 2006 sinking of oil tanker MT Solar 1 spilled over 2 million liters of oil into the sea was made even messier by a lot of official blame tossing and finger-pointing even as opportunists eager to cash in on the tragedy proliferated.

In a sense, Iloilo City is lucky enough that the recent oil spill mishap –a tempest in a teacup when compared to the Guimaras experience, was immediately and proactively responded to by the Power Barge owners. It could have been worse.