Power barge oil spill: A classy response

By Limuel Celebria

 

When news broke about an oil spill caused by an explosion in Power Barge 102 moored near Bo. Obrero nearly two weeks ago, some memories of the Guimaras Oil Spill in 2006 flashed into my mind. Still considered the worst oil spill disaster in the country, the Guimaras Oil Spill – caused by the sinking of an oil tanker due to bad weather — spewed about 2 million liters into the sea and the shorelines of Guimaras, Panay, and Negros island.

Overall, the Guimaras oil spill affected 20 communities in the 4 municipalities in Guimaras. It also threatened 27 communities in Iloilo province and 17 others in Negros Occidental.  But Guimaras was worse-off. The oil that contaminated the waters and the Guimaras shoreline was not only devastating for its environment but also for its people and economy. Guimaras lost billions of pesos and it took years before it can begin to recover.

I had a front seat view of the recovery efforts during that time as Petron tapped me to serve as local media coordinator and PR consultant. Those were interesting days.

The recent Power Barge oil spill – which involved some 251,000 liters of bunker fuel, may seem a drop in the bucket when compared to the Guimaras experience. But, as Iloilo City Councilor Ely Estante said in a privilege speech delivered during a City Council session on July 7: “Oil spills, whether large or small, are floating disasters. They contaminate coasts and estuaries and can cause serious health problems to human beings. The impact of oil spills on public health include illnesses caused by toxic fumes or by eating contaminated fish or shellfish.”

Estante, as chairman of the City Council Committee on Environment, filed a resolution calling on the owners of PB 102 to conduct an immediate and thorough clean-up of the oil spill and provide compensation to the victims. Following passage of the resolution, Estante went the extra mile and met with the barangay officials, the various agencies involved in relief and recovery operations, and representatives of the owners of the power barge, AC Energy Corp, said to be a subsidiary of the Ayala conglomerate.

Estante made use of his good office to make sure that the victims are being taken cared of and that proper compensation will come to them.

Recent reports indicate that the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as the Department of Labor and Employment, are mulling charges against AC Energy Philippines for negligence and other violations while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is looking at the company’s rehabilitation plan for the cleanup and removal of collected waste as well as ensuring the safe water and air quality prior to the return of families displaced by the oil spill to their homes and communities.

Amid all these, I am very much impressed by the very quick and pro-active response to the crisis by AC Energy. During Kgd. Estante’s meeting with local officials, AC Energy was ably represented by Gabriel Mejia, head of plant operations. He was very open, candid and forthcoming. He welcomed suggestions on how to compensate victims even saying, “dagdagan nyo pa (ask for more).”

In my experience, most companies that find themselves in the middle of a jam resort to avoidance exercises – usually blame-tossing, finger-pointing and/or handwashing. In this instance, there was none. Instead, the company moved immediately to clean-up the mess and provide help to those affected. It showed class and composure in the face of adversity.

Initially the victims – around 1,300 from, three barangays – were sheltered in several evacuation centers and AC Energy immediately hired doctors and nurses to look after the health concerns of the victims. Later, after Covid 19 concerns were raised, the victims were moved to Marriot Hotel, a top of the class hotel in the city. For many of the victims, it was probably their first time to sleep in a classy hotel, children were having joyrides up and down the elevators while their parents were going from room-to-room comparing notes with their neighbors. They probably wish the oil spill effects would last much longer.

But such would surely not be the case. AC Energy with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard and other agencies has quickly moved to collect the oil and prevent its further spread. The company even hired manpower from the victims themselves. It has also installed dozens of monitors to measure water and ambient air quality. I won’t be surprised if the displaced will find themselves home by the time this column comes out.

Overall, I would give AC Energy much more than a passing grade in its response to the oil spill. It has given true meaning to the term Corporation Social Responsibility.