Philippine big businesses which portrayed themselves as good Samaritans during the pandemic are revealing their dark side in the rush to recoup what was lost during the two-year disruption.
Environmental groups are up in arms against a conglomerate that has been caught in one too many controversies that indicated greed. This time it was tied to the recent sinking of a tanker carrying 800,000 metric tons of industrial oil.

To cut costs, the company used an unlicensed vessel to carry the lethal cargo across the resource-rich Verde Island Passage, which is known for having the most abundant concentration of marine life in the world.

Environment watchdog Protect VIP wants immediate reparation from all involved in the tragedy, saying the government should exhaust all means to make the private companies accountable.
Compensation is needed for the living expenses of the communities affected by the oil spill.

Penalties should also be applied for the environmental backlash caused by the spreading pollutant.

A hearing of the Senate committee on environment, natural resources, and climate change the other day revealed that the owner of the star-crossed tanker, RDC Reield Marine Services Inc, had not secured sufficient requirements before sailing.

The lack of legal documents for the vessel, according to shipping experts, may make it hard for the owners of the tanker and its cargo to claim insurance payments, which earlier reports placed at around $1 billion.

The government is relying on insurance payments to foot the bill for food subsidies and the massive cleanup that may last for years.

It was found that the vessel is new, having been built just last year, and had thus far made nine trips.

Its final voyage was allowed despite the company still being in the process of updating its Certificate of Public Convenience.

“Ensuring the seaworthiness of ships that would pass through extremely rich and socio-ecologically important waters like the VIP, including necessary papers like inclusion in the CPC, should have been basic due diligence,” Fr. Edwin Gariguez, lead convener of Protect VIP, said.

These violations of maritime rules, according to the environmentalists, all the more point to the accountabilities of RDC and its charterer. “We assert that any insurance claim challenges they may face due to this in no way excuse them from having to pay up,” Gariguez said.

SL Harbor Bulk Terminal Corporation, a subsidiary of a corporate giant, chartered RDC Reield Marine Services to ship industrial oil carried by the tanker that sank off the coast of Oriental Mindoro.
The charterer is generally considered the spiller and owner of the vessel involved and should not deny its role in the environmental nightmare.

Rules governing oil spills say the companies must pay a cash bond of at least P70 million, of which P50 million will be used for cleanup and containment and P20 million for damages and payment to impacted communities.

There were several infractions committed indicating that those involved in the epic accident are used to flaunting rules.

For instance, how could the tanker have sailed without a license if not for the company behind it pulling the right strings?

Giant conglomerates should be reminded that looking after the welfare of the people should go beyond mere slogans and sound bites.