Cordova erred in P127M damage claim?

CEBU, Philippines - The International Tankers Owners Pollution Federation said the P127 million claim of the Municipality of Cordova on oil spill was not done properly.

Nicky Cariglia of ITOPF made the statement following the result of the environmental study on oil spill caused by the sinking of M/V St. Thomas Aquinas on August 16, 2013 which shows low toxicity level to the marine resources.

Cariglia suggested that the preparation of the claim should be based on international standard and follow international best practices.

“The environmental claim was based on abstract model rather than on the reality,” she said.

With the result of the study, Cariglia said they have now the real focus on which to base on and at the same time recommended that the claim should reflect the study and needs to be revised.

Cordova town is claiming P127 million from the proceeds of the protection and indemnity insurance providers of the shipping companies for the damage to the town’s mangrove plantation and livelihood caused by the oil spill that followed the collision.

2GO, owner of M/V St. Thomas Aquinas had said it’s not paying for the compensation until the liability as to who was at fault is determined.

The investigation on the sea collision between M/V St. Thomas Aquinas and M/V Sulpicio Express Siete of Sulpicio Shipping Lines is still pending at the Maritime Industry Authority.

The ITOPF together with the University of the Philippines-Visayas Oil Spill Response Program were commissioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to assess the impact of the oil spill in Cordova.

During the environmental study presentation Wednesday at the Capitol, Dr. Resurreccion Sadaba of UPV showed that in the mangrove areas that they studied, around 145 hectares of mangrove land, only 0.29 percent showed a mortality rate.

He said they assessed 13 barangays and three were most affected by the oil spill, including Barangays Day-as, Buagsong, Bangbang and part of Poblacion.

Sadaba clarified that the oil spill did not damage more than 10 percent of Cordova’s mangroves. (FREEMAN)