Charges readied vs people behind oil spill

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The city government here headed by Mayor Pablo Ortega is preparing criminal and administrative charges against those involved in the coal spill that destroyed large portion of the 75-hectare marine protected area in Ba­rangay Lingsat.

Ortega told The STAR that the city environment office under Valmar Valdez is now studying the charges to be filed against those erring individuals, particularly the barge owner and crew of the tugboat that towed the barge.

The affected area of the spillage widens as Nava Ratna 3 – the ill-fated Indonesian barge – was left unattended for several days during the height of typhoon Mina and the storm surge because the Philippine Coast Guard, who was tasked to retrieve the barge, failed to conduct mitigating measures before and during the occurrence of the bad weather condition.

Ortega said that one of the possible charges is the violation of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fishery Code due to the destruction of coastal habitats, particularly corals and sea grasses.

“We are still researching for other graver offenses and violations to avoid technicalities but it is still better for us to settle for a rehabilitation plan so we can preserve our fish sanctuary,” Ortega said.   – Jun Elias