BUNGA ng matinding pinsala ng oil spill sa paglubog ng marine vessels sa Bataan, isinulong ni Sen. Cynthia Villar ang agarang pagsasampa ng mga kaso sa ship owners at operators.
Sinabi ni Villar na nag-preside sa pagdinig ng Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, na dapat parusahan ang mga may-ari at operators ng MTKR Terranova, MV Mirola 1, at MT Jason Bradley na lumubog nong July sa baybayin ng Bataan.
“Again, the oil spill has caused extensive economic and environmental damage, posing threats to marine ecosystem and biodiversity, and the livelihood of fisherfolks and coastal communities,” ani Villar.
Sa pagdinig, nangako sina Martin Jose Despi, regional director, Environmental Management Bureau, Region 3; Commodore Arnaldo Lim, Philippine Coast Guard; at Sonia Malaluan, administrator, Maritime Industry Authority, na magsasampa sila ng mga kaso sa loob mg isang buwan.
” The allegations against the responsible parties include leaving port without clearance, lacking operational documents, and causing significant environmental harm,” sabi pa ng senador.
Layunin ng second hearing sa Senate Resolution No. 1084 na isinampa ni Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino, na tiyakin ang sanhi ng oil spill, tugunan ang impact nito, alamin ang effectiveness at sufficiency ng response efforts, at alamin ang katotohanansa oil smuggling allegations.
“We echo Senator Tol’s sentiment that this is result of the government’s neglect, which causes misery to our fisherfolks, and which needs to be properly addressed,” dagdag pa ni Villar.
