ROXAS BATS FOR INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
IN PREVENTION OF MARITIME POLLUTION

Senator Mar Roxas seeks to raise to international standards Philippine laws in prevention of maritime pollution and in controlling the damage to the country's rich marine resources as a result of shipping operations.

He filed Senate Bill No. 2440, the Ship Pollution Prevention and Control Act, which is based on the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, otherwise known as MARPOL 73/78, to which the Philippines is a signatory.

"Recent disasters have brought to light our government's insufficiency in dealing with manmade threats to our waters. We need better interagency cooperation rather than the finger-pointing that goes on when a maritime disaster happens," he said, in light of the M/V Solar I oil spill off Guimaras Island in August 2006 and last month's sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars.

A counterpart bill has already been filed at the House of Representatives by fellow Liberal Party stalwart Laguna Rep. Ivy Arago. The bill outlines the tasks of various agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in preventing ship-generated pollution as well as pollution control in the case of an oil spill or similar event.

"Our marine resources suffer threats from being damaged as the quality of our coastal water continuously deteriorates over time," he said, noting a Greenpeace estimate that the degradation of waters that comes from shipping operations accounts for 12% of the total sources of marine pollution.

The bill also outlines the specific prohibited acts and penalties in the discharging or dumping of various pollutants in Philippine waters, and other offenses. "Up till now, the law on maritime pollution, Presidential Decree 979, relates to dumping of waste by ships in general, but lacks the specifics that would enable our agencies to act as needed," he said.

Noncompliant shipowners may be subject to a fine by the Secretary of Transportation and Communications of up to P10 million, without prejudice to the filing of a criminal case against the shipowner.

Last month, Roxas filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the discovery of 10 tons of hazardous pesticide in M/V Princess of the Stars' cargo and the insufficient insurance coverage of the ship owned by Sulpicio Lines.

Roxas has also filed a resolution calling for an inquiry on the status of a Global Marine Distress Safety System contract signed 10 years ago, intended to prevent maritime disasters. These resolutions and his new bill on maritime pollution have been filed in order to further ensure maritime safety in the country.