DENR, 2Go to do joint assessment on damage of MV Aquinas oil spill

ANOTHER assessment will be made to determine the cost of environmental damage of the oil spill in Cordova town and Lapu-lapu City.

This decision was made up after the meeting of officials of 2Go and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 (DENR-7) to discuss the P41-million environmental damages sought from the shipping firm for the oil spill that followed the August 16 sinking of the MV St. Thomas Aquinas in Lauis Ledge, off the coast of Talisay City, Cebu.

“We agreed for this joint research in order to identify another actual cost of damage in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City,” said Dr. Eddie Llamedo, DENR-7 spokesman.

With the agreement, the November 15, 2013 deadline set by the DENR-7 for the payment of damages was cancelled.

Lito Salvio, vice president of 2Go, told CDN that they will set a technical conference so they can decide when to start the scientific research which will be conducted with the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) and Dr. Rex Sadaba of UP.

They plan to complete the new assessment by yearend.

Llamedo said 2Go is willing to pay the fine but as of now, they have yet to decide on an agreement with the other shipping line involved — the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC), owner of the freighter Sulpicio Express Siete that collided with the 2Go passenger vessel. The sea mishap claimed 116 lives, with 21 still missing. 733 survived./Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag