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Greenpeace surprised Petron Corporation, when activists delivered a container drum of spilt bunker oil.
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The drum was hand-carried by Greenpeace activists who wore protective gear used for handling hazardous materials. In Petron’s courtyard, Greenpeace volunteers laid down a banner with a replica of Petron’s logo and the words “Petron, stop the spill now!”. The banner was trod on by three other activists who left black footprints leading to Petron’s door, in their wake.
Dragging their feet
Our campaigner in South East Asia, Beau Baconguis, explains why. “From the start, Petron’s response to the spill has been extremely disappointing - initially they even shunned responsibility for the spill," she said. "Up to now, they have failed to take urgent action on the pressing need to retrieve the rest of the sunken oil. Were Petron genuinely concerned about the well-being of Guimaras, its unfortunate residents, and the environment, they would have guaranteed the costs to immediately initiate the retrieval operation."
Sixty days later
It seems Petron is trying to distance itself from financial responsibilities associated with the retrieval effort. The company has been more preoccupied in downplaying the extreme urgency of the situation. It is now 60 days after the oil spill, and the responsible parties are still vacillating over the question of money—with little thought to the dangers the excruciating wait continues to pose on the environment and the well-being of people in the area.
"Every day that passes means more bunker fuel leaks into the sea and onto unfortunate coastal villages."
According to the government, retrieval of the oil now depends on whether the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) will approve the compensation of the siphoning of the oil from the sunken vessel. But the IOPC is not set to make a decision until October 23. Even if approved, retrieval is expected to begin only in December. Meanwhile, every day that passes means more bunker fuel leaks into the sea and onto unfortunate coastal villages. The contamination and suffering, as well as the health and environmental risks continue.
Greenpeace calls on Petron to hasten the retrieval of the oil by guaranteeing the expected costs. Petron should also:
"If Petron thinks they can rest easy after their much-hyped cleanup... they can think again"
“This is no time to be protecting profits yet again to the detriment of human health and the environment,” Beau adds. “If Petron thinks that they can now rest easy because of their much-hyped clean-up, which in fact does little to address the problem, they can think again. As long the source of Petron’s oil remains underwater, no PR blitz can erase the trail of destruction that leads to their doorsteps.”
Dragging their feet
Our campaigner in South East Asia, Beau Baconguis, explains why. “From the start, Petron’s response to the spill has been extremely disappointing - initially they even shunned responsibility for the spill," she said. "Up to now, they have failed to take urgent action on the pressing need to retrieve the rest of the sunken oil. Were Petron genuinely concerned about the well-being of Guimaras, its unfortunate residents, and the environment, they would have guaranteed the costs to immediately initiate the retrieval operation."
Sixty days later
It seems Petron is trying to distance itself from financial responsibilities associated with the retrieval effort. The company has been more preoccupied in downplaying the extreme urgency of the situation. It is now 60 days after the oil spill, and the responsible parties are still vacillating over the question of money—with little thought to the dangers the excruciating wait continues to pose on the environment and the well-being of people in the area.
"Every day that passes means more bunker fuel leaks into the sea and onto unfortunate coastal villages."
According to the government, retrieval of the oil now depends on whether the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) will approve the compensation of the siphoning of the oil from the sunken vessel. But the IOPC is not set to make a decision until October 23. Even if approved, retrieval is expected to begin only in December. Meanwhile, every day that passes means more bunker fuel leaks into the sea and onto unfortunate coastal villages. The contamination and suffering, as well as the health and environmental risks continue.
Greenpeace calls on Petron to hasten the retrieval of the oil by guaranteeing the expected costs. Petron should also:
- immediately intensify relief operations
- commit to paying for the continuing clean up, rehabilitation, and monitoring of the area, and
- compensate the communities for the lost incomes since August 11, for up to at least 1 full year after the oil has been removed from underwater.
"If Petron thinks they can rest easy after their much-hyped cleanup... they can think again"
“This is no time to be protecting profits yet again to the detriment of human health and the environment,” Beau adds. “If Petron thinks that they can now rest easy because of their much-hyped clean-up, which in fact does little to address the problem, they can think again. As long the source of Petron’s oil remains underwater, no PR blitz can erase the trail of destruction that leads to their doorsteps.”
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