The owner of a power barge that spilled oil in the waters off Iloilo City is expected to compensate communities that suffered economic losses due to the incident, a lawmaker said yesterday. “We are counting on the operator of the power barge – AC Energy Corp. – to shoulder the cost of the cleanup of the spill,” Rep. Michael Defensor, former secretary of environment and natural resources, said. Defensor cited the Oil Pollution Compensation Law of 2007 or Republic Act 9483, which imposes liability for oil pollution damage and guarantees adequate reparation for adversely affected populations, especially those that depend on fishing and seashell harvesting.

Porcalla, D. (2020, July 7). Compensation sought for oil spill victims. The Philippine Star, p. 9.