The oil spill from a sunken motor tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of oil in Limay, Bataan has reached the shorelines of Tanza, Cavite, progressive fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) reported on Monday, July 29.
Fishers in Cavite had earlier expressed alarm over the oil slick that might contaminate fishery resources, affecting the farmgate prices of their produce.
According to Pamalakaya, fishers and coastal residents in Tanza detected the smell of oil on Monday morning.
“Nangyari na ang aming kinatatakutan; ang kumalat ang langis sa kalakhan ng Manila Bay at maperwisyo ang kabuhayan ng maraming mangingisda (Our worst fears have come true; the oil has spread across most of Manila Bay and has affected the livelihoods of many fishermen),” Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said in a statement.
He said that in Tanza alone, around 5,000 fishers will be affected if the spreading oil is not immediately contained.
Fishers in Manila Bay, according to Pamalakaya, are very worried about the effects of the oil spill on their livelihoods as they are still reeling from the devastation caused by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or habagat.
The progressive group said its members will inspect the municipal waters of Cavite to assess the extent of the oil spill, and will seek concrete rehabilitation for the affected livelihoods and damaged resources.
Environmental groups Greenpeace and Oceana are calling on the government to ensure accountability for the "preventable" tragedy, targeting both the responsible government agencies and the private owners of the tanker.
On July 25, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that motor tanker Terra Nova capsized and sank off Limay, Bataan.