Metro Pacific, Aboitiz, SMC To Clean Verde Island Passage

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), the Philippines’ leading infrastructure investments company, has announced its commitment to protect and enhance the Verde Island Passage (VIP) in partnership with Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) and San Miguel Corporation (SMC).

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel Pangilinan shares a message at the MOU Signing for Private Sector Involvement in the Protection and Management of the Verde Island Passage. I Photos: Metro Pacific Investments Corporation

The partnership followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Energy for the clean-up of the so-called Verde Island Passage, a critical waterway and the site of an environmental disaster with the oil spill from a chartered tanker of SMC in February last year.

The DENR and DoE are said to have pushed for the rehabilitation of the Verde Island Passage due to the complaints from fishermen and other communities that were affected when MT Princess, which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel, capsized in the area.

MPIC agreed to be part of the clean-up initiative as it is building on its established efforts through its Shore Up Initiative, which is aimed at cleaning up waters of plastic and other waste.

Also, the partnership among the three conglomerates further solidifies the role of the private sector in the conservation of Vista Verde, a crucial marine biodiversity hotspot.

Aside from being a critical ecological asset, the VIP is also a vibrant economic avenue for local communities, supporting traditional fisheries and ecotourism.

MPIC’s Chairman, President, and CEO, Manuel V. Pangilinan, emphasized the strategic integration of environmental stewardship with private and government partnerships.

“Today, we take a giant step together towards a healthier marine environment, and towards thriving communities. But rest assured, this will not be the last time we attempt a great, monumental task together. The work of nation-building continues, and I am thrilled to be working alongside all of you.”

On February 28, 2023, MT Princess Empress was transporting 800,000 liters of industrial oil from Limay, Bataan, to Iloilo when it capsized off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

It caused an enormous oil spill which, based on accounts from government agencies and environmental groups, impacted about 162.6 square kilometers of area and 74.7 km of shoreline.

The oil spill affected the waters, marine life, and ecosystems in the provinces of Antique, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 43,699 families or 200,244 individuals have been affected in 264 villages in the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan, and the municipality of Caluya, Antique.

In Oriental Mindoro alone, more than 99,000 people have been affected.

Following the signing of the two memoranda, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga highlighted the significance of the partnership in her address.

“We strive to achieve our commitment to building adaptive and resilient communities nationwide as we adopt a ridge-to-reef approach in ecosystem protection, recognizing their critical roles in providing food, water, and energy. I am therefore very pleased and privileged to be part of a joint undertaking of the DENR and the DOE with the powerhouses in the energy sector, as they commit to the conservation and protection of our Biodiversity in the Verde Island Passage,” she said.

The agreement outlines several key objectives, including enhancing biodiversity, promoting sustainable economic opportunities for local communities, and supporting the nation’s transition to a low-carbon future.

It further aligns with international environmental goals and the Philippine government’s clean energy initiatives, creating a robust framework for ongoing cooperation.

This partnership represents the group’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, 13 – Climate Action, 14 – Life Below Water, and 15 – Life on Land.

The group Protect Verde Island Passage (Protect VIP), headed by Fr. Edwin Gariguez as the Lead Convenor, issued a strongly-worded statement in March of 2023 entitled, "POLLUTER MUST PAY", which condemned the silence of SMC in its role in the MT Princess Empress tragedy.