2GO firm on decision not to pay Cordova

CEBU, Philippines - The shipping company 2GO Group Inc. remains firm on its position not to pay for damages suffered by Cordova town brought by the oil spill from the MV St. Thomas Aquinas which sank in Lawis Ledge in August last year.

Calvin Rosellosa, 2GO Ormoc manager who supervised the daily cleanup operations in Cordova, said that a liability has to be established first by the Maritime Industry Authority  as regards the incident.

“This time we cannot answer it. Di pa man gud nato ma-establish ang liability kay nagtoo si mayor nga if there’s damage and you are covered by insurance, automatically you will pay. But I think that is not the line of thinking of insurance. There should be establishment of liability before you pay,” he explained.

Cordova town Mayor Adelino Sitoy is claiming P127 million as compensation for the damage  incurred  in his town’s mangroves and fishing communities by the oil spill that followed the collision between MV Thomas Aquinas, owned by 2Go, and MV Sulpicio Express Siete of Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp, formerly Sulpicio Lines Inc. Aug. 16 last year.

The bunker fuel spill damaged hundreds of hectares of mangroves in the town.

The amount claimed by Cordova from the both companies reportedly covers the affected sectors in Cordova such as the fisherfolk (P78.6 million), those in Barangays Alegria (P5.8 million), Bangbang (P10.77 million), Buagsong (P5.58 million), Catarman (P8.4 million), Cogon (P3.9 million), Dapitan (P1.6 million), Day-as (P8.4 million), Gabi (P1.05 million), Gilutongan (P6.3 million), Ibabao (P4.2 million), Pilipog (P7.7 million), Poblacion (P9.09 million), and San Miguel (P5.6 million).

Apart from those in the fishing sector, the damage also affected vendors at (P1.38 million), livelihood projects at P5.1 million, and mangrove forests at P41.7 million.

Sitoy, in a separate interview, questioned the need to wait on the determination of who is at fault regarding the 2GO and Sulpicio Lines coll ision last year.

“Ngano mohulat paman ug determination kung who is at fault nga naa namay coverage sa insurance... Kung kinsa gyoy sad-an, sila na lay magkinubrahay,” he told said.

He was referring to the marine insurance proceeds derived from the protection and indemnity insurance coverage collectible from Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation, which Sitoy said would cover the environmental damage compensation that he is claiming.

Cebu Governor  Hilario Davide III, for his part, is hoping that the issue would be resolved te soonest. He has also set a meeting for the concerned parties on June 2.

“Ang punto ni Mayor Sitoy coverage man ang environmental damage sa insurance. It is not necessary kung kinsay sad-an. Basically kay shared responsibility man gyod ang damage sa environment. Gihangyo namo sila nga sultian ang ilang management about sa position sa Cordova. Kita dinhi ang role nato is to bring the parties together aron magkasinabtanay,” he said.

Rosellosa sought for an amicable settlement over the issue and is also hoping that the issue would not end up in court. (FREEMAN)