Not 800K as earlier reported by PCG
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said the ill-fated MT Princess Empress was carrying a cargo of 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, or 100,000 liters more than what was initially reported, when it sank off Negros Oriental last February 28.
PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the PCG’s earlier statement that the vessel was transporting only 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil was based on information provided by the vessel’s crew members.
“That (800,000 liters) was based on the report given to us by the crew. But when we reviewed the papers they submitted to us, it was containing 980 (thousand) something,” said Balilo. “Their declaration (on paper) is 900,000.”
Despite the new information, Balilo said the vessel was not overloaded.
“Based on initial information, it’s not overloaded. Initially, based on the crewmembers, it’s not overloaded,” said Balilo.
But Balilo could not immediately say the maximum capacity of the vessel, adding he was going to check.
The PCG also earlier said the ship was carrying 10,000 more liters of operational fuel.
The vessel encountered engine trouble due to overheating and subsequently sank, causing a massive oil spill that has reached as far as Taytay, Palawan.
Last Monday, Balilo said the vessel’s cargo appeared to be intact, based on the image given by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. He said there was no “significant leakage” from its storage tanks.
Yesterday, Balilo said that “based on the amount of oil that spilled, industrial fuel oil might have already leaked though it’s not that significant.”
Balilo said the PCG has also started an investigation into reports that PCG personnel did not inspect the vessel before it left Bataan for Iloilo.
“We are looking into that. There is already an investigation that we are conducting about that,” Balilo said, adding that all vessels should be inspected prior to departure.
“Of course, it doesn’t have to be extensive because if we are going to inspect it thoroughly, the vessel may not be able to leave immediately. It may take a week to complete it,” said Balilo.
The PCG is also looking into the authenticity of the certificate of public convenience that was presented by MT Princess Empress officials before the ship left Bataan. Lawmakers claimed last Tuesday that the vessel had no permit to operate.
Balilo said the PCG allowed the vessel to sail on the presumption of regularity.
“It (papers) was given to us by the second mate crew (of the vessel). There’s a presumption of regularity that it came from the authorities and it was not spurious. We asked for the document and that’s what was given to us,” said Balilo.
Balilo said PCG personnel who received the document have been directed to execute an affidavit.
“We’re checking if the document is spurious. We asked our personnel to execute (an) affidavit so we will have strong evidence that this was submitted to us. This (document) was (the) basis why we allowed the vessel to sail,” said Balilo.
CHARGES VS OWNER
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said they intend to file a slew of charges against the owners of the MT Princess Empress.
Remulla met with officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the National Bureau of Investigation to discuss possible legal actions against the operators of the vessel.
“We are sorting out the evidence so that we can file the proper complaint, collate all the data, but as far as we are concerned there are possible cases to be filed. Ipa-file ito ng legal office ng DOJ and we intend to do this by Tuesday,” Remulla told reporters.
“We are looking at every angle possible-environmental damage, health risks, damages to biodiversity,” he added.
The tanker’s owner, RDC Reield Marines Services, said early this month that it would comply with its obligations and has already tapped two companies under the ship’s $1 billion protection and indemnity insurance.
Remulla said they are also looking at information that the tanker disregarded gale warning last February 27 and early morning the next day.
“They were already informed early morning on that fateful day of the weather difficulties but they still decided to proceed,” he said.
Earlier, Pola, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Jennifer Cruz said they are mulling filing cases against the owner, operator or insurer of the sunken fuel tanker due to the damage their town suffered due to the oil spill.
NOT BRAND-NEW
Remulla said every angle is being looked into by the National Bureau of Investigation, including the alleged attempt of the operators to deceive authorities on the operation of the vessel.
He said the tanker was not newly-built, contrary to the information presented by the ship owner to the PCG last Saturday, but was merely rebuilt from scrap twice to convert it into an oil tanker.
“Isang major finding natin ay hindi siya brand-new vessel. It is a rebuilt scrap ship, dalawang beses ni-rebuild para maging tanker. It was not built to be a tanker from the very beginning,” Remulla explained.
“Kasi ang unang claim sa amin sa presentation with Coast Guard is it is a two-year old vessel. Brand-new so to speak by Philippine standards but we learned it was not newly-built,” he said, adding there was misrepresentation in the case.
The DOJ chief said the vessel was first rebuilt to become an LPG carrier and underwent another re-building to become an oil tanker.
INSURANCE ANGLE
Remulla also said that NBI investigators are looking into the angle that the incident has something to do with the company’s huge insurance.
“It was not built to be a tanker from the very beginning and we’re looking from the angle of insurance also, it seems that it has a huge insurance,” he said, adding a witness has issued an affidavit detailing the real condition of the vessel and other possible circumstances that led to its sinking.
Remulla added they are doing a “whole of government” approach in the investigation on the ship’s sinking and the gathering of evidence.
He added that government officials are scheduled to conduct an inspection of the extent of the damage caused by the oil spill next week.
BIG BLOW
Sen. Nancy Binay yesterday said the oil spill in Mindoro Oriental is a big blow to the province’s tourism industry considering it is a “summer alternative” to Boracay.
Binay, Senate Committee on Tourism chair, said many have cancelled their bookings in Mindoro Oriental for the Holy Week due to the effects of the oil spill.
She said a swift collective action from government and non-government groups should be in place as studies project the oil slick may reach Batangas and Palawan if not immediately contained.
“What we can do right away is to set into motion the assistance facilities of DSWD and activate the TUPAD program. Aside from the fisherfolks, we can tap displaced tourism workers, community-based organizations, and those livelihoods affected to help in the cleanup and in setting up barriers to mitigate the environmental impact and public health risks. Hindi lang ito localized na problema–SOS call na ito (This not only a localized problem — this is an SOS call),” she added.
RISING PRICES
Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. yesterday urged the Department of Trade and Industry to investigate reports that prices of basic commodities have “skyrocketed” in several towns of Mindoro Oriental amid the oil spill.
Revilla received the information when he visited the province to extend financial assistance and relief goods to affected families in the towns of Bulalacao, Roxas, Pinamalayan, Pola, and Naujan.
He said Gov. Humerlito Dolor, along with other town mayors, told him that there has been an unabated spike of prices of food and basic commodities, including rice, meat, poultry, and vegetables since the MT Princess Empress sank.
P43.35M AID
More than P43.35 million worth of various aids have been distributed by the government, private sector and non-government organizations (NGOs) to communities affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) head Carlito Galvez Jr. said last Wednesday.
Latest data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DSWD-DROMIC) showed that 32,033 families or 147,133 persons from 126 barangays from Regions IV-B (Mimaropa) and VI (Western Visayas) have been affected by the oil spill.
DSWD said it still has P2.07 billion worth of funds (P750.9 million) and stockpile of food and non-food items (P1.32 billion) on standby and ready for distribution.
Galvez said the combined P43.35 million aid has been distributed to 74 areas in the two regions and were sourced from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), DSWD, Department of Health (DOH), local government units (LGUs) and NGOs.
He said that the livelihood of 13,654 fisherfolk were also affected while 169 individuals were injured or have fallen ill due to the oil spill.
Galvez said that during the shoreline clean-up drive, 894 sacks of oil contaminated debris and 77.5 drums of waste for treatment were collected.
The President reiterated his instructions to intensify the cleanup operation on the oil spill-affected areas, especially in Oriental Mindoro.
A State of Calamity has been declared in the towns of Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, Roxas in Oriental Mindoro as well as Caluya in Antique.
Galvez reiterated that experts and coast guards from other countries have offered assistance to the country in containing the oil spill, including a response team with Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) from Japan expected to arrive on March 20 to help in the cleanup efforts.
“The Task Force managing the oil spill in MIMAROPA in collaboration with the LGU of Oriental Mindoro shall coordinate with the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration and Bureau of Quarantine to expedite the entry of the incoming response team with Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) from Japan to arrive the country on March 20,” he said.
He also said the owner of the shipping company that manages MT Princess Empress, through its insurance firm, has also contracted an ROV from Harbor Star and the Malayan Salvage and Towing Corp. to help in the cleanup and offshore oil containment.
Galvez said the Department of Transportation-Philippine Coast Guard will also simultaneously look for an alternative ROV from a local source for the detection and recovery of the oil spill source. — With Ashzel Hachero, Raymond Africa and Jocelyn Montemayor
