The local government of Pola in Oriental Mindoro calls on the national government to ban illegal tankers involved in “paihi scheme” or an illegal practice of some tanker ships transferring oil to smaller boats in the middle of the sea to avoid paying taxes.
In an interview during the 2nd anniversary of the oil spill disaster following the sinking of the oil tanker MT Princess Empress on Feb. 28, Pola mayor Jennifer “Ina Alegre” Cruz highlighted the urgency of addressing this problem, calling for national government intervention to ban the illegal scheme.
She said that this issue is not just a local concern but a national one that demands immediate action.
“This has been a long-standing issue. This is a national problem and they should be the ones to solve it. As the town’s chief executive, we will support whatever directive the national government gives to stop this. They should stop because the ones suffering are not them,” Cruz said.
Moreover, this so-called “paihi system” is usually being done by tankers to unload their oil or other hazardous materials into coastal areas under the cover of darkness or with minimal oversight causing significant harm to the local fishing industry and marine biodiversity, which leads to the contamination of waters that the community relies on for their daily sustenance and income.
The local government of Pola has called for more vigilance from the authorities in controlling and inspecting tanker operations, urging the national government to provide resources for better monitoring and stricter implementation of maritime laws.
Cruz remains committed to protect its coastline from further damage and ensure a sustainable future for its fishing communities.
“We will continue to fight for the welfare of our fishermen and our coastal communities. The environment and their livelihoods are at stake,” she added.
Cruz also hopes for the establishment of a more comprehensive task force to combat illegal tankers and enforce environmental protection laws more effectively. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro/Photo from PCG)
