DENR says damage cost in oil spill may go higher

THE cost of damages to mangrove trees and other damages demanded by the Cordova municipal government from the two shipping firms could go higher after a joint assessment in the area by environmental authorities.

“We are still waiting from the experts hired by the 2Go shipping company for our joint research,” Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

The joint assessment was agreed upon  last October 2013 after 2GO officials met with DENR when the shipping company received a demand letter to pay the P41 million damages caused by the oil spill in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City.

Last February 11, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy signed a letter demanding that 2Go shipping and Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC) to pay P126.8 million in damages caused by the oil spill.

Montejo said he is coordinating with the 2Go officials so that they can start their joint assessment on the damage.
“We are also coordinating with the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp (PSACC) to also answer with their responsibility,” Montejo told Cebu Daily News.

Montejo said the waters and mangroves affected by the oil spill are slowly recovering from the ill effects of the oil spill. “There are signs of recovery,” he added.
The oil spill was caused by the collision of 2Go’s M/V St. Thomas Aquinas and PSACC’s M/V Sulpicio Express Siete off the coast of Talisay City in August last year.

M/V St. Thomas Aquinas carried 120,000 liters of bunker fuel, 40,000 liters of diesel and lubricants when it sank after the collision with MV Sulpicio Express Siete.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said they won’t press charges against the two shipping companies because their barangays sustained only minor damage compared to Cordova town.