One year after the collision of MV St. Thomas Aquinas and MV Sulpicio Express Siete that claimed the lives of 116 passengers and crew and left 21 people missing, Cordova town has yet to be fully compensated for the costly mistake committed by crews of the two vessels owned by 2GO Group Inc. and Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC).
It is no surprise that Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy accompanied fisherfolk groups to file class suits against the two companies for damage amounting to P134 million, plus compensation worth P81 million for the fisherfolk whose livelihood was jeopardized by the oil spill that leaked from the MV St. Thomas Aquinas.
As the source of the spilled oil, 2GO Group Inc. bears responsibility for paying compensation to the town and its fisherfolk. If a marine inquiry established that the cargo ship of PSACC was at fault in the collision, that company as well shares the burden.
The shared responsibility of the shipping lines should have been defined with dispatch.
Cordova town showed remarkable patience and persistence in negotiating with both to arrive at a settlement only to be given the run-around.
It shouldn’t take a one-year anniversary to ascertain the facts of the sea mishap.
With both ships covered with maritime insurance, last year’s disastrous collision, while a big drain on both companies would not have resulted in their closure.
They spent much for burial costs, medical expenses and other forms of compensation for the families of the victims but it was nowhere near the actual damage done to lives of Cordova inhabitants or the long-term harm done to the coastal environment that remains the source of livelihood for Cordova fishing folk.
From a corporate standpoint, the strategy has been to avoid accountability.
That delay will come to an end in this court suit.
The Marine Board Inquiry tasked to investigate the collision at sea has not inspired public confidence with the slow pace of the investigation that makes them appear reluctant to assign blame.
This has led the Cordova municipal government to include government agencies in the lawsuit as well.
Pressure is needed to bring the tragedy to a closure.
Only the environment court can pressure the two companies and government agencies to properly compensate Cordova residents, and to finance a complete rehabilitation of their coastal villages.