The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) estimated that the recent oil spill from the tanker MV Terranova has caused a PHP 78.69 million (US$1.37 million) income loss for thousands of Filipino fisherfolk.
This week, the DA confirmed that the spill has affected 28,373 out of an estimated 46,090 fisherfolk and impacted 5,810 fishing boats. In response, the DA is working with local governments and agencies to manage the crisis. Their efforts include conducting coastal clean-ups, installing spill booms, and evaluating the health of the fish stock.
Fishing ban enforced
After the oil spill on July 25, authorities imposed a fishing ban in Limay, Bataan. Additionally, they issued a “no-catch and no-sell” order for shellfish in Cavite, a large province with over four million residents.
Officials also declared fishing bans in Las Piñas, Parañaque, Abucay, Balanga City, Limay, Mariveles, and Samal in Bataan.
The salvor will begin siphoning oil from the MT Terranova once they install all the fabricated metal caps on the tanker’s valves. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and salvor Harbor Star have already simulated the siphoning operations.
Alongside containment and community support, the Department of Justice is investigating the oil spill’s causes and determining liability.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is actively monitoring and assessing fishing areas impacted by three maritime incidents.
BFAR has deployed personnel to catch landing sites and local markets to prevent oil spill-contaminated seafood from reaching consumers and to assess market dynamics to stabilize fish prices.
The agency has mobilized floating assets for monitoring, surveillance, and clean-up operations, including the fabrication and deployment of oil spill booms from used nets and coco fiber.
BFAR is coordinating closely with provincial local government units and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) to expedite the early recovery program.
Furthermore, the Bureau is preparing to release fuel subsidies and additional food packs for displaced fishers and is exploring alternative fishing areas. BFAR also advised the public against consuming fish from affected areas to avoid potential food poisoning.
Still waiting for assistance
Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya has reiterated its call for accountability from the government and the companies responsible for the oil spill.
Pamalakaya’s vice chair Ronnel Arambulo stressed the need for compensation to directly benefit affected fishers through aid and livelihood support.
“We will closely monitor if the company of the sunken oil tanker will pay for the damages,” Arambulo told Maritime Fairtrade in a text message.
“It should be ensured that the compensation being demanded directly reaches the affected fishermen in the form of aid and livelihood support,” he added.
In an earlier statement, the group’s initial assessment indicates that around 9,000 fishermen in Bataan are suffering from a drop in fish prices, with the price of “alubaybay” (Sardinella albella) falling from PHP 120 per kilo to PHP 50 per kilo.
The MT Terranova sank on July 25 near Limay, Bataan, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel during Super Typhoon Carina (international name Gaemi).
Two days later, another oil tanker, MTKR Jayson Bradley, sank in Mariveles, Bataan, carrying 55,000 liters of diesel and the grounding of MV Mirola 1 in Mariveles on July 31. The southwest wind has spread the oil spill to Manila Bay and Cavite.
Philippine Coast Guard vessels secure a second layer of spill booms and apply oil dispersants at ground zero on August 2.
Oil spill threatens marine life and seafood supply
Oceana, a marine conservation group, warns that the oil spill poses a serious threat to Manila Bay, a critical source of seafood for Metro Manila and other parts of the Philippines.
According to the group, Manila Bay is crucial for fish spawning and supports around 60 migratory bird species, including 12 threatened ones, which are about to begin their migration.
Oceana cautions that the oil spill could suffocate and kill essential mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds in Manila Bay, leading to long-term ecological damage.
“If the more than one million liters of oil onboard are not safely removed, the resulting spill could kill marine wildlife, destroy our mangroves, and put people’s health, food sources, and livelihoods at risk,” Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Oceana’s vice president in the Philippines, said.
Ramos called for immediate and comprehensive action to address the disaster and mitigate its impact, emphasizing that the effects will be felt long after the headlines fade.
“We know what’s at stake here: jobs, food, exports, and even lives. Even after the oil pollution is cleaned up, seafood may be contaminated for years. The people of the Philippines will be dealing with the impacts of this devastation long after the headlines fade, and the government must act swiftly to mitigate this disaster,” Ramos said.
All photos: PCG.
Top photo: Philippine Coast Guard vessels secure a second layer of spill booms and apply oil dispersants at ground zero on August 2.
