An oil tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of oil capsized and sank in Manila Bay, endangering the nearby municipality of Limay in Bataan province and other areas already heavily affected by extreme rainfall from Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwestern monsoon. Greenpeace climate campaigner Jefferson Chua said,

“The sunken tanker MT Terranova is a ticking time bomb that further imperils the health, safety and livelihoods of coastal communities around Manila Bay.  Communities are  still reeling from the impacts of Super Typhoon Carina. Now we’re facing another crisis with this oil spill near Limay, Bataan.

“This one-two punch of calamities highlights just how severe the danger fossil fuels can be to our environment and to vulnerable communities. With inadequate government social and financial support for recovery, communities are left on the lurch, as in the case of the MV Princess Empress last year. Fossil fuel companies who owned the cargo escaped responsibility, in large part because of lackadaisical government moves to hold them accountable.

“The government and the companies involved must do everything to recover the vessel and its contents immediately to prevent further damage to the marine environment and coastal communities.

“The owners of MT Terranova and its cargo must come forward and claim responsibility: foot the bill for any environmental damage this may cause, and provide compensation to the communities affected. The government must also ensure that the full weight of our legal system is applied to ensuring justice for the people of Limay and the other communities in the area.

“We reiterate our call for the Marcos administration to end our dependence on fossil fuels, and expedite a just transition to renewable energy. 

“President Marcos must also call for payment from fossil fuel companies for losses and damages suffered by Filipino communities, and immediately adopt a comprehensive Climate Justice Agenda as the country faces the worsening impacts of the climate crisis.”

NOTE TO EDITORS:

You may download our Climate Action Agenda here.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Eunille Santos, Greenpeace Communications Campaigner
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