Protect Verde Island Passage, enforce 2017 agreement —group

Groups from different sectors on Wednesday called on the government to protect Verde Island Passage from the effects of oil spill and fossil gas plant operations.

In a statement, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) cited the agreement establishing the Verde Island Passage Marine Protected Area Network and Law Enforcement Network.

The PMCJ said the memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by concerned provincial governments and agencies in 2017.

“Fisherfolk, community leaders, and climate justice groups led by the PMCJ unite to urge signatory provincial governments and agencies to enforce the said agreement,” the PMCJ said.

Under the MOA, the provincial governments of Batangas, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Romblon and Marinduque, in partnership with concerned agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, committed to protect the marine flora and fauna in the area.

The groups said the owner of the sunken motor tanker Princess Empress should be held liable for the oil spill.

“Dapat hindi na payagan ang paglayag ng mga kahalintulad na barko na nagdadala ng langis at gas sa VIP. Sa kagyat, dapat panagutin ang mga may sala sa pagkawasak ng VIP,” Batangas City Bantay Dagat volunteer Leizel Amol, who is also a resident of Verde Island.

MT Princess Empress sank in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on February 28 while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said satellite images showed that the oil spill already reached Isla Verde.

Even before the oil spill, the groups said local fisherfolk and LGUs have reported an alarming decrease in fish catch.

“This is attributed to the proliferation of fossil gas plant operations along the VIP corridor,” PMCJ said.

“Since the execution of the agreement, dirty energy power plants using liquefied natural gas (LNG)/fossil gas have expanded their operations in Batangas directly abutting the VIP,” it added.

The groups also slammed DENR for allegedly “entertaining” the applications for environmental compliance certificates for the proposed fossil gas projects.

GMA News Online has sought a comment from the DENR about the matter. The department has yet to respond as of posting time.—LDF, GMA Integrated News