A congressman from the home province of popular tourist site Boracay has expressed worries about the environmental impact of the Oriental Mindoro oil spill.

According to Aklan 2nd district Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr., the oil spill that resulted from the sinking of MT Princess Empress last Feb. 28 threatens the environment, public health, tourism, and livelihood of affected residents in Oriental Mindoro, Antique, Palawan, and other nearby areas.

Haresco--concerned that his province might also be affected by the brewing economic and environmental disaster--has filed House Resolution (HR) No. 842, which seeks to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the oil spill as well as the extent of its damage to marine resources, health tourism, and livelihood.

Aklan is home to Boracay, arguably the crown jewel of Philippine tourism.

Famous for its white-sand beaches, Boracay is an island that can be found approximately one kilometer away from the north-western tip of the province.

The economist-solon said that MT Princess Empress is liable under several international conventions, which include the 1992 International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (1992 CLC), the 1992 International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (1992 FUND), the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.

Under the 1992 CLC, the vessel's owners are liable for up to P331.3 million subject to computation, plus additional liabilities under the IOPC Fund should they fail to comply.

“Beyond clean-ups, we must make an effort to make MT Princess Empress and its owners RDC Reield Marine Services accountable to the government for damaging our tourism industries and marine resources and to the affected communities whose health and livelihood are heavily compromised,” Haresco said.

Moreover, he recommended that the insurance company of MT Princess Empress be pursued by the Insurance Commission.