Saying the Mindoro oil spill was avoidable had concerned government agencies strictly enforced maritime protocols, a fisherfolk group said the owner of the motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress should be held liable as well as concerned agencies that will be found negligent in allowing the said vessel to sail.

In a statement, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas(Pamalakaya) said around 18,000 fisherfolk have been affected by the oil spill caused by the MT Princess Empress which sank off on Feb. 28. Due to the oil spill, local governments have prompted to impose a fishing ban, fearing contamination of fish.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has recently reported that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are low-level contaminants, were discovered in fish samples from the oil spill-affected areas of Oriental Mindoro. Thus, the bureau recommended continuing the fishing ban in affected areas for the sake of public safety.

“It is clear that the oil spill that is now plaguing many towns and oceans could have been avoided, if only those concerned had been strict and vigilant. So the company that owns the sunken ship and the agency that are proven to have been negligent to allow the MT Princess Empress to sail should be held accountable,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairperson, said in Filipino.

“We again call for immediate government action through economic support to fishermen. Above all, the agencies and companies responsible for the oil spill should be held accountable to prevent similar incidents in the future,” he added.

The fisherfolk group has called on the House of Representatives to start deliberation of the House Resolution No. 869, which urges the Committee on Natural Resources and Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources conduct an investigation on the oil spill, and recommend ways to indemnify the affected coastal communities.

“The resolution was filed by the Makabayan legislators, along with Pamalakaya and environmental groups Earth Island Institute (EII) and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment last week,” Hicap said.

Based on the most recent data of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 47,712.26 liters of oil waste have been gathered so far from the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Antique, and Batangas.

Earlier, the BFAR disclosed that the country's fisheries sector is losing P5 million a day as the impact of the Oriental Mindoro oil spill continues to take its toll.