Senator Cynthia Villar on Sunday, April 20 expressed fears of a repeat of the 2023 MT Princess Empress oil spill and the back-to-back oil spills that occurred last year following the capsizing of the Chinese-flagged MV Hong Hai 16 off Occidental Mindoro last Tuesday, April 15.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Climate Change, said she can only hope that the government would pay close attention to the potential environmental consequences of this latest incident.

“Any oil spill poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems, fish stocks, and the livelihoods of our coastal communities. Occidental Mindoro and its surrounding waters are vital fishing grounds that must be protected,” Villar said in a statement.

“This incident reminds us not only of the 2023 MT Princess Empress oil spill, which severely damaged marine ecosystems and disrupted livelihoods across several provinces, but also of the back-to-back capsizing of M/T Terra Nova and MTKR Jason Bradley in Bataan last year,” she recalled.

“Both incidents resulted in oil spills that polluted coastal waters, harmed coral reefs and marine species, and threatened local fish supplies,” she lamented.

In the case of Terra Nova, Villar pointed out that the situation raised serious allegations of “paihi” or illegal fuel operations.

And unfortunately, to this day, she said no conclusion has been reached on the investigation.

“We cannot allow this pattern of negligence and weak enforcement to continue. These repeated accidents are setting back our efforts to protect marine biodiversity and ensure food security for millions of Filipinos,” she emphasized.

“Kailangan ng mas mahigpit na regulasyon, seryosong pagbabantay, at tunay na pananagutan (Stricter regulations, serious oversight, and real accountability are needed),” she pointed out.

Villar said she is saddened by the lives lost in the capsizing of vessel: “My condolences go out to the families of the four crew members who perished.”

The senator further said she finds the incident a huge concern considering that it occurred even during an amiable weather.

“Nakakabahala na nangyari ito kahit walang masamang panahon (It is worrying that this happened even without bad weather),” she said.

“The condition of the ship, the safety of the operation, and the quality of surveillance of dredging activities and our oceans should be thoroughly questioned (Dapat masusing tanungin ang kondisyon ng barko, kaligtasan ng operasyon, at ang kalidad ng pagbabantay sa mga dredging activities at sa ating karagatan),” she stressed.

Last April 18, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that seven crew members of the MV Hong Hai 16 died. On Saturday, April 19, another body was recovered, bringing the number of casualties to eight.