QUEZON CITY, Philippines (July 30, 2024) – Representatives of climate impacted communities, civil society organizations, and Greenpeace Philippines staged a protest in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday to call on the Marcos administration to make fossil fuel companies accountable for climate impacts and damage to the environment.
Hands stained with black paint in solidarity with communities affected by the oil spills in Manila Bay, the participants of the march carried banners with the call “make climate polluters pay.” Specifically, they called on DENR Secretary Ma Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to ensure that fossil fuel polluters pay for losses and damages to communities. The groups are urging the President to certify the Climate Accountability (CLIMA) Bill[1] as urgent and for Philippine Congress to pass it in the 19th Congress.
“Sana po bigyan ng gobyerno ang basic sector na pangunahing bulnerable sa epekto ng pagbabago ng klima ng pagkilala na syang higit na kailangang bigyang protekson,” said Ruperto B Aleroza “Ka Uper”, Vice Chairperson for Basic Sectors, Sectoral Representative, Artisanal Fisherfolk Sectoral Council. “Sana maging katuwang ang DENR sa pagaabot sa pangulo ang aming panawagan, at maging champion sila sa mga kasama nilang kinatawan ng pamahalaan. Kung sa POGO sinabi ni pangulo na napakinggan nya ang sigaw ng mamamayan, ngayon ay meron tayong mas malakas na sigaw para ipasa ang CLIMA bill dahil ito ay isang solusyon sa mga nararanasan natin na disaster, dapat panagutin ang dapat managot, at bayaran ang mga nawalan at napinsala.”
“Fossil fuels bring serious harm to communities, and companies must be made accountable for damages,” said Virginia Benosa-Llorin, Greenpeace senior climate justice campaigner. “As head of a key agency of the Marcos Administration, we believe Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga can ensure the enactment of mechanisms to make climate polluters pay for damages. We believe that the best and most concrete step in making this happen is by supporting the passage of the Climate Accountability (CLIMA) Bill.[1]
“The climate vulnerability of the Philippines has long been established. But in the past week we’ve seen it live on video, photo, and news reports on the effects of the habagat intensified by Super Typhoon Carina, and the oil spill threatening coastal communities around the bay. As we’ve seen, the most vulnerable and marginalized sectors in the country are hit the hardest by the climate emergency.”
Once passed, the CLIMA Bill will empower those who seek reparations. It provides the country with a mechanism that will compel carbon majors to be transparent about their emissions. It will demand that the private sector finally take responsibility for their actions. And it will help provide funding aid to the most vulnerable and marginalized sectors in the aftermath of disasters.
The groups believe that the DENR can act with urgency, right now, by demanding accountability and payment from the companies responsible for the oil spill in Manila Bay. Leaked industrial oil from the MT Terranova and the MTKR Jason Bradley is causing an environmental disaster that will just get worse in the days to come. This is an unfolding economic disaster in one of the country’s most important fishing areas, affecting tens of thousands of communities reliant on marine life in the bay.
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Notes to editors:
[1] Link to HB 9069 – CLIMA Bill
Photos and videos of the activity here.
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