Philippines: Groups demand reparations from industries as climate crisis worsens
By Zeus Legaspi
Multiple green and multisectoral groups in the Philippines have called on fossil fuel companies to be held accountable for the pollution and worsening climate hazards affecting the country.
Greenpeace Philippines, in a statement on May 29, highlighted the significant climate impacts caused by the fossil fuel industries, which have reportedly contributed to the escalating environmental dangers in the archipelago.
"The Philippines is in a constant state of climate emergency, Super Typhoons are the Philippines’ new normal, even as we are already experiencing longer-term, slow onset impacts such as drought, sea level rise, and diminishing resources," said Jefferson Chua, a campaigner from Greenpeace Philippines.
The country’s northern provinces are taking the impact of Typhoon Mawar (local name "Betty") – the world’s strongest typhoon so far this year. Although it downgraded into a typhoon, Mawar is still expected to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall that may cause floods and landslides.
About 20 tropical cyclones hit the Philippines annually. Climate change exacerbates these climate hazards as oceans’ temperatures increase, making typhoons stronger and more frequent, Greenpeace said. In the past six years, the archipelago experienced 14 super typhoons.
“Meanwhile, fossil fuel companies responsible for most of the carbon emissions that have largely contributed to the climate crisis, are still looking to expand their operations, further exacerbating the effects of climate change, even as they rake in huge profits from our people’s suffering,” he added.
Further, the organization pointed out that globally, the largest oil, gas, and coal companies are responsible for over US$ 200 billion in expected lost GDP per year from 2025-2050, the cost of which is shouldered by governments, taxpayers, and the “uncompensated victims of climate change”.
“Typhoon Mawar, like all other super typhoons before it, is a stark warning and reminder that things will get a lot worse,” Chua said.
“The Philippine government must demand reparations for losses and damages from fossil fuel companies. The world shouldn’t let these climate crimes continue; culprits must be held to account and must pay reparations,” he added.
Cry for justice
Meanwhile, Protect VIP (Verde Island Passage), a network of residents, fisherfolk, youth, faith-based, and civil society groups decried the Philippine government’s alleged inaction on holding fossil fuel companies accountable as polluters.
This call came after the oil spill affecting the VIP and surrounding communities hit its 90-day mark without those responsible being held accountable for the widespread pollution.
The group attended the Joint Hearing of the Committees on Ecology and Natural Resources in the Philippine Congress on Monday to convey their disappointment with the lack of sanctions for RDC and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) which were among the owners of the sunken vessel that spilled industrial oil in the VIP.
“This national disaster has been going on for three long months, but we fear that it is still not being treated as one. While the government dilly-dallies in exacting accountability and justice, the damage to Verde Island Passage’s ecosystem and resulting impacts on stakeholders continue to worsen. Companies responsible for this must be punished,” said Father Edwin Gariguez, lead convenor of Protect VIP.
Father Gariguez recently toured Europe to demand banks sever ties with “polluting industries” in the Philippines.
“We must not let these polluters go scot-free. At this time of ecological and climate crises and increasing loss of wildlife, one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world is in peril. Curiously, our agencies seem to refuse to lift a finger in exacting liability from those responsible. They must face their day of reckoning for the damage they wrought on the environment and the people's livelihood," said Gerry Arances, co-convenor of Protect VIP.
In February, tanker MT Princess Empress capsized off the coast of Oriental Mindoro, bringing down with it 800,000 liters of industrial oil causing damage to people and wildlife in the area.
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