Since July 27, fish farm gate prices in Bataan dropped by 58.33% after the oil leaked from the MT Terra Nova, the sunken ship contracted by Petron Corporation. From ₱120/per kilo, fisherfolks are forced to sell their catch for only ₱50/kilo. Many consumers stay away from fish from Bataan, Cavite and Bulacan to avoid getting sick from the chemicals from the oil spill.

“Our catch may not be directly contaminated as our source is far from the leaking ship, but merchants still grossly undervalue our fish, further pulling down our income,” Pamalakaya chairman Ronnel Arambulo said in an interview. “Besides low farm gate prices, fisherfolk no longer catch our usual fish such as bisugo.”

“Government officials should be held accountable for the two Manila Bay oil spills now affecting coastal communities in Bataan, Bulacan and Cavite,” according to a joint statement by Pamalakaya and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in August 5. In addition to the MT Terra Nova carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, the MTR Jason Bradley carrying 55,000 liters of diesel also sank in Mariveles, Bataan.

The Philippine Coast Guard has yet to clear the oil spills, despite boasting that the MT Terra Nova was “easy” to secure as it was near the coast and sank in “shallow” waters. Unless promptly resolved, the situation in Manila Bay will be the “worst oil spill” in Philippine history.

“The Marina, PCG, the Portavaga Ship Management that owns the MT Terra Nova must be held accountable including the owner of the cargo oil that is now leaking into Manila Bay,” Danilo Ramos, KMP head said.

Attempts were made to keep the public unaware that the oil cargo of MT Terra Nova is owned by SL Harbor Bulk Terminal Corporation, a San Miguel Shipping and Lighterage Corporation subsidiary. SL Harbor also contracted the MT Princess Empress, which sank in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro and caused the disastrous oil spill in 2023. Petron is a subsidiary of SMC owned by big bourgeois comprador Ramon Ang. (Media’s deliberately delayed disclosure about this is not surprising as Ang also owns a large share of several media outlets, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star.)

“This is government’s gross neglect. Apart from failing to prevent the oil spills, the affected fisherfolk also has received no support from the regime,” Pamalakaya said.