FISHERMEN affected by an oil spill coming from a sunken tanker at the Manila Bay are bound to receive compensation, according to Senator Francis Tolentino.
“The Mayor and I were discussing a while ago about the oil spill. He told me the news that the compensation from the ship owner is forthcoming,” Tolentino said, referring to his talk with Limay Mayor Richie Jason David.
Tolentino made the announcement on Tuesday in a speech addressing the Bataan residents.
The MT Terranova sank off the coast of Limay, Bataan, in July 2024, releasing approximately 1.5 million liters of industrial oil into Manila Bay.
The spill prompted local governments to impose fishing bans in affected areas, displacing about 46,000 fisherfolk in Bataan, Cavite, Metro Manila, and nearby provinces.
Tolentino previously filed Senate Resolution No. 1084, directing the Senate to investigate the cause and impact of the oil spill.
“I remembered the incident because just a few weeks ago, I led the distribution of boats to fishermen’s associations in Tanza, Rosario, Naic, and Cavite City who were also affected by the oil spill,” he said.
Tolentino also emphasized the economic link between Bataan and Cavite, which will be further strengthened by the construction of the 32-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.
“That’s what I foresee: Cavite and Bataan would become ‘twin’ provinces sharing economic prosperity,” he said.
The bridge project aims to cut travel time between Mariveles, Bataan, and Naic, Cavite, from five hours to just one and one-half hours.
Construction is expected to begin in this year, with completion projected by 2030 at an estimated cost of $3.91 billion.
Funding will come from a combination of loans provided by the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Philippine government.