Meanwhile, Guimaras Governor Joaquin Nava, in a joint press conference with Greenpeace at Taklong marine reserve, expressed frustration for the absence of commitment from the national government and Petron to halt the worst oil spill in Philippine history which smothered important marine ecosystems and has already
affected 40,000 people on the island.

Greenpeace fears, however, that the worst may yet to come if the remaining 1.9 million litres of Petron oil contained in the sunken tanker is unleashed into the
sea.  

“We reiterate our demand for Petron to immediately raise the ship out of the seabed or pump out remaining oil from its tanks. Unless this is quickly dealt with, there looms the prospect of a bigger catastrophe,” said Von Hernandez, Campaign Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “Relief operations must continue to help the people of Guimaras. Petron must also compensate villages for loss of their livelihood, and set up plans to give these communities long-term livelihoods. It appears now that Petron is just making them janitors for the oil spill.”

Greenpeace urges the Philippines government to conduct a wider impacts assessment work, which must include all affected areas in Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros. The government must also hold Petron accountable for the long-term rehabilitation of the affected marine sanctuaries, mangrove areas, reefs and coastal ecosystems.

“The impacts of this oil spill on the environment will linger for years, even decades. The government must learn from this disaster and put in place policies
that protect the marine environment and millions of Filipinos who rely on them for food and livelihood,” said Hernandez.

The Esperanza is in the Philippines on the latest leg of her global Defending Our Oceans expedition to highlight the wonders and the environmental threats to the world's oceans and to campaign for the establishment of marine reserves around the world. Scientists recognize the Philippine archipelago as the world's centre of marine biodiversity, but is also the most highly threatened due to pollution, and
destructive fishing.

Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and to force solutions essential to a green and peaceful future.