Asia/Pacific News
Charges Filed in Philippines Oil Spill
A Philippine cruise ship operator has been charged with violations of clean water law in connection with oil spilled after a deadly accident earlier this month, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.
The Environment Management Bureau (EMB) filed charges against 2GO Group Inc. (2GO Group) under the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 carrying a maximum penalty of P200,000 ($4,500) per day starting when the spill was discovered.
"The amount or fee as a penalty could go as high as several millions until such time that the water quality as indicated in the water samples are already within government standards," said EMB-7 Regional Director William Cunado.
2GO Group's MV St. Thomas Aquinas sank after colliding with the cargo vessel Sulpicio Express Siete on August 16.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has also called for both 2GO Group and Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. to conduct cleanup measures.
Authorities found water samples gathered 500 meters away from the accident area contained as much as 10,170 milligrams of oil and grease per liter, where the tolerance level for bathing and fisheries is 2 milligrams.
Compensation for ruined mangrove plantations in the area come to P6.5 million ($146,000), according to DENR-7, while 12 villages were reported to have been severely affected by the spill.
An official inquiry into the accident is ongoing.
The MV Thomas Aquinas was carrying 20,000 litres of diesel, 120,000 litres of bunker oil, and 20,00 litres of lube oil when it sank.
The official death toll from the accident stands at 80, with 40 people still missing, the Philippine Star reports.
