The owners of MT Princess Empress--the vessel that sank off Oriental Mindoro and triggered an oil spill--ought to be held accountable for the unmitigated environmental disaster.

Thus, said Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who noted that the oil spill has put at risk an important protected marine area.

"Kailangang mapanagot ang mga may-ari ng MT Princess Empress...kailangang maghabol ang pamahalaan para sa containment, cleanup, at rehabilitation ng mga maaapektuhang area (The owners of MT Princess Empress must be held accountable...the government must go after them for containment, cleanup, and rehabilitation of areas that would be affected)," he said in a statement Sunday, March 5.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the oil spill, which already spans several kilometers, could affect 21 marine protected areas. The agency's Biodiversity Management Bureau mapped out potential risk areas, which include seagrass beds, mangroves, and dispersion pathways for spawned fish larvae.

Concerns have also been raised that the oil spill could threaten the important and already fragile Verde Island Passage, which scientists consider as the center of marine biodiversity in the world.

Lee said that aside from its adverse impact on the environment, the oil spill would affect the livelihood of fishermen working on the contaminated areas.

"Manganganib ang kabuhayan ng maraming mangingisda sa Mindoro at sa iba pang lalawigan na nakapalibot sa kontaminadong dagat. Sa panahon na pahirap nang pahirap ang buhay, gutom ang aabutin ng pamilya ng mga ito kung hindi sila makakapagtrabaho (The livelihood of many fishermen in Mindoro and nearby provinces are at risk due to the contaminated sea. At a time when life is getting harder, these families will go hungry if they are unable to find work)," Lee said.

The neophyte lawmaker also appealed to the government to provide aid and temporary employment to fisherfolk who would be forced to cease work by the oil spill.