‘FLOATING DISASTER’: Iloilo City, Guimaras officials take Ayala firm to task on oil spill

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

The local governments of Iloilo City and Guimaras urged the owner of Power Barge 102 which caused an oil spill last week to take responsibility for the latest environmental crisis that hit the island.

The call was directed to Ayala-owned AC Energy Philippines, operator of PB 102 that was damaged by an explosion last July 3, 2020 and spilled an estimated 251,000 liters of bunker fuel, which already contaminated coastal barangays of the city and Guimaras.

In a statement, Governor Samuel T. Gumarin said not a drop of bunker fuel should remain in the shorelines of Guimaras, citing that AC Energy has the responsibility to clean up the hazardous waste.

“Klaruhon ko lang, wala sang bunker fuel nga mabilin sa Guimaras. Dapat paguwaon na siya kun diin man na dal-on sang Ayala,” Gumarin said.

An estimated 268,000 liters of bunker fuel spilled into the coast of Iloilo City following the explosion of Power Barge 102 on July 3, 2020.

Data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) indicated that the spill has affected 23 barangays in the island province as of July 6, 2020.

Seventeen of the affected barangays are in the town of Buenavista – Montpiller, Rizal, Sto. Rosario, Magsaysay, Zaldivar, Sawang, Taminla, Dagsaan, Tacay, Getulio, San Miguel, Navalas, Bacjao, Tanag, Umilig, Avila, East Valencia.

Barangays Morobuan, Hoskyn, Rizal, Balcon Melliza, Balcon Maravilla, and Espinosa in Jordan town are also reeling from the effects of the oil spill.

Gumarin said the lessons from previous oil spills that hit the island should be reason enough for Guimarasnons to be vigilant.

Time is of the essence, according to the governor, and stakeholders should act promptly to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

“Dapat man nila maintyindihan nga may mga responsibilidad sila. May mga economic laws. Hopefully experience will teach us to be more vigilant and dasig na reaction naton parte diri,” he added.

Engr. Edwin Gallego assured that AC Energy will own up to its liabilities.

Gallego said that AC Energy will hire community workers needed for the clean-up operation.

The company will also provide the needed protective equipment for those involve in the clean-up operation.

Gallego said that the firm will also handle the collection and transport of the hazardous waste.

DISASTER IN WAITING

In a privilege speech during the regular session of Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on Tuesday, Councilor Ely Estante raised concerns over the oil spill incident that he called a “floating disaster” currently affecting the residents and the marine environment.

“An oil spill can be one of the most devastating man-made environment disasters. Oil spills result in great damage on marine environment. Oil spills whether large or small are floating disasters, they contaminate coasts and can cause ill-problems to human beings,” he lamented.

According to Estante, the sludge and fumes caused by the oil spill have put in immediate danger the health of around 123 families along the shores of Brgy. Bo. Obrero and Brgy. Mansaya in Lapuz district forcing them to seek temporary shelter in an evacuation senter.

“Oil spills, whether large or small, pose serious hazards to the environment, damaging marine ecosystems while delivering adverse effects to the health and livelihood of communities,” he said.

After his privilege speech, Estante proposed a resolution calling for AC Energy Corp to conduct an immediate and continuing cleanup of the power barge oil spill and provide compensation to the victims of the disaster.

The resolution urges the owners of the power barge to immediately investigate the explosion to pinpoint responsibility and present to the city council a report on the result of such investigation as well as their plan to prevent a repeat of similar occurrences in the future.

“They should provide financial assistance and damage compensation to the immediate victims of the oil spill in Bo. Obrero and Mansaya; conduct an immediate and continuing clean-up operations; and

devise a scheme that will provide compensation for groups and individuals who will actively engage in the clean-up operations,” he said.

The resolution received support from members of the City Council and was passed on Tuesday.

 

RESPONSE

Apart from committing its full resources to respond to the incident, AC Energy Philippines said it has been coordinating with industry partners, government agencies, third party experts, and the local community, who have all come forward to help quell the environmental impact of the spill.

In a statement, the Ayala-led firm said Shell Philippines provided a skimmer and empty drums that are being used to store bunker fuel sludges collected during the clean-up operations in the coastal areas.

Petron Corp. and its subsidiary, SL Harbor, performed clean-up work along the shores, as they pulled out their skimmers today, July 7, as the oil has already thinned out. The Philippine Coast Guard, Global Business Power Corp., Phoenix Petroleum and the local government of Iloilo continue to provide support since day one.

“In the coastal areas, volunteers for shore clean-up were mobilized to support our rapid response team. We have partnered with the local community and, in true Bayanihan spirit, close to 200 volunteers have signed up to aid in the clean-up operations of the affected areas starting July 5, Sunday,” the firm said.

Personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other tools necessary were provided, as well as financial support for their efforts.

To ensure the health, safety and welfare of the affected communities, the multiagency response teams, and the numerous volunteers, AC Energy said it continues to provide needed support including providing packed meals, clean water, medical equipment and health workers to the affected communities to help them cope with impact of the accident.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to mitigate the environmental impact of the spill and address all concerns in a responsible manner. In relation to the show cause letter that we received from the DENR, we will respond in due course, and we will fully cooperate with its efforts and comply with its requirements.” (With a report from ERS)