Manila (AsiaNews) – The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the faithful yesterday to extend all possible help to communities in Western Visayas affected by an unprecedented environmental disaster that is threatening local plant and animal life.

An oil spill was caused by the sinking of a fuel tanker off Guimaras Island on August 11. About 10 per cent of its two million litres of crude oil leaked into the sea, contaminating some 200 kilometres of coastline.

CBCP chairman, Mgr Angel Lagdameo, made his plea after meeting with residents of the worst hit areas, particularly the town of La Paz. The prelate said that sand, stones, wood, seaweed and mangroves were blackened by bunker fuel, telling the faithful that it would be a Christian act for people to help the oil spill victims.

Archbishop Lagdameo heads the archdiocese of Jaro in the province of Iloilo, where some coastal towns have already been affected by the spill.

"We may not be responsible but we can reach out immediately to affected families of affected barangays (villages) in terms of material help because they have lost their livelihood," he said.

"Let us be in solidarity with them through whatever organised help we can extend to them. As one 'Body of Christ,' the tragedy suffered by one part is felt too by the entire body," he said.
Mgr Lagdameo called for a full and honest inquiry to determine responsibilities for the event.

Fr Maloney Gotera, parish priest of St Vincent Ferrer Parish in Nueva Valencia, told AsiaNews that now for locals "food is the biggest problem now because they are not allowed to go fishing."

Most people in the area make a living from fishing. The oil spill is preventing them from going out to sea and make ends meet.

Fr Gotera said that "various individuals and groups have started to respond generously. But the long-term effects of the damage to the environment may take a long time before they fixed." More importantly, "people should not be forgotten," he said.