Fishermen render affidavit to support case vs ship firms

CEBU, Philippines -  At least six fishermen from different associations under the Pundok sa mga Mananagat sa Cordova Incorporation executed an affidavit to support their claim for damages against the 2GO Group Inc. and the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation (PSACC).

Rogaciano Sumagang, 50, of Barangay Bangbang, Cordova, Cebu, said their livelihood was affected greatly by the oil spill emanating from sunken MV St. Thomas Aquinas after it sank off Lawis Ledge after colliding with MV Sulpicio Express Siete.   MV St. Thomas Aquinas is owned by 2GO Group Inc. while Sulpicio Express Siete is owned by PSACC.

As president of the Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Bangbang or NAMASBA composed of 82 members, he said he executed an affidavit to air their hardships caused to the oil spill that reached Cordova town.

Sumagang said that before the spill, they usually earned about P200 at the very least and up to P2,000 a day.

However, because of the spill, they were not able to go fishing for at least two months and while they were able to fish again sometime in October, customers also did not want to buy their catch for safety concerns.

Sumagang said that during that time, they depended solely on the assistance given to them while some had to look for sideline jobs.

Orlando Degamo of Barangay Buagsong, Lolita Andales of Barangay San Miguel, Freddie Baguio of Barangay Day-as, Yolando Escabas of Barangay Camolinas, and Pedro Eredera of Barangay Cogon share Sumagang’s sentiment.

Mildred Uy, 40, another resident of Cordova, backs the statements of the fisher folk.

She said that before she became a project consultant for the town, she was a community organizer of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources assigned in Cordova and handled the implementation of livelihood projects. Because of the oil spill, she said, the fishermen in the town experienced difficulties.

The town then gave financial assistance, food to eat and water to drink to the fisher folk.

The affected fishermen have agreed to ask for compensation from 2GO for the income that they lost for two months. The compensation is based on the least earnings of the fisher folk at P350 per day.

On Thursday, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy and the concerned fishermen filed an environmental case against the two shipping companies and government agencies, namely the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard  before the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City.

The petitioners asked for damages against the two shipping companies while the government agencies were included in the case to compel them to act on their mandate. —/JMO (FREEMAN)