Fisherfolk affected by the Verde Island Passage (VIP) oil spill renewed their call for justice by filing a demand letter with the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC) for full and adequate compensation, two years after the disaster.

On Feb. 28, 2023, the MT Princess Empress, a tanker carrying 900,000 liters of oil, sank off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. 

Owned by RDC Reield Marine Services, Inc. and chartered by a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the vessel’s sinking triggered a severe environmental and economic crisis that continues to impact coastal communities.

“Two years is already long overdue. We call on the IOPC, RDC Reield Marine Services, Inc., SMC, and its subsidiary, to give the affected fisherfolk the compensation that they deserve,” said Father Edwin Gariguez, lead convenor of Protect VIP.

A study conducted by the think tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) estimated that the oil spill caused at least Php 41.2 billion in socio-economic and environmental damages. 

Many fisherfolk continue to struggle, with some still awaiting compensation while others claim the payments they received were inadequate.

“Not everyone has been compensated yet, and even if there are some, it’s not enough and was just used to pay off debts. It’s not enough for the period that we lost income, especially since even though the oil spill happened two years ago, our catch still hasn’t returned to normal,” said Aldrin Villanueva, President of Koalisyon ng mga Mangingisda Apektado ng Oil Spill (KMAOS).

Environmental studies by CEED in 2024 revealed that several marine protected areas (MPAs) in the VIP failed to meet water quality guidelines set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) due to elevated oil and grease levels.