CALAPAN, ORIENTAL MINDORO – Days before the third year since the MT Princess Empress oil spill that devastated Oriental Mindoro, part of the biodiversity hotspot Verde Island Passage (VIP), advocates and fisherfolk groups called for urgent rehabilitation plans and long-term protection for the VIP during the second Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee hearing on oil spill claims. The hearing was months after the class action lawsuit filed by affected fisherfolk last December 202

Protect Verde Island Passage (Protect VIP) on Friday challenged carbon major Shell to hop on the bandwagon of fossil fuel companies that are now ending plans to put up liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities along the critical marine corridor. In November, Ayala-led ENEXOR announced the cancellation of its proposed 1,100 MW Batangas Clean Energy LNG project. This momentum continued in December, when Vires Energy cancelled its planned 900 MW LNG project in Barangay Simlong, Bat

For the consideration of the Honorable members of the 12th Sangguinang Panlalawigan of Oriental Mindoro.   Protect VIP—a coalition of residents, fisherfolk, youth, civil society, and people’s organizations, faith-based and labor groups, and supporting groups convened with the common interest of protecting the Verde Island Passage (VIP)—respectfully presents the following points for discussion and consideration: Background On February 28, 2023, MT Princess Empress sank off the