We must do better: Senator Villar mourns loss of lives, demands accountability after MV Hong Hai 16 sinking
Cynthia Villar expressed deep sorrow and alarm following the capsizing of the dredging vessel MV Hong Hai 16 off the coast of Occidental Mindoro, which has so far claimed the lives of six crew members and left five others missing.
The vessel, which was conducting dredging operations near Barangay Malawaan in Rizal town, overturned on April 15 with 25 people on board—13 Filipinos and 12 Chinese nationals. Fourteen individuals have been rescued, according to reports from the Philippine Coast Guard and news agencies including Reuters and Inquirer.net.
Senator Villar extended her condolences to the victims’ families, emphasizing the preventability of the tragedy.
“Nakakabahala na nangyari ito kahit walang masamang panahon,” she said, raising urgent questions about the vessel’s condition, its operational protocols, and the quality of oversight for maritime and dredging activities.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Villar underscored the looming environmental danger the incident presents.
The MV Hong Hai 16 was reportedly carrying 2,000 liters of lube oil and 30,000 liters of diesel at the time it capsized. Authorities are actively monitoring the site to prevent a possible oil spill that could devastate local marine ecosystems.
“Any oil spill poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems, fish stocks, and the livelihoods of our coastal communities,” she stated.
Villar connected the latest maritime disaster to a disturbing trend of similar incidents. She pointed to the 2023 oil spill from the MT Princess Empress, which reportedly released approximately 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil off the coast of Oriental Mindoro, affecting multiple provinces and displacing fishing communities.
She also recalled the back-to-back capsizing of M/T Terra Nova and MTKR Jason Bradley in Bataan, both of which resulted in environmental damage and raised suspicions of illegal fuel operations. “To this day, no conclusion has been reached on the investigation,” she noted, referring to the Terra Nova case.
“These repeated accidents are setting back our efforts to protect marine biodiversity and ensure food security for millions of Filipinos,” Villar warned. She called for systemic reforms and stronger maritime governance: “Kailangan ng mas mahigpit na regulasyon, seryosong pagbabantay, at tunay na pananagutan.”
Beyond environmental and regulatory concerns, the senator stressed the human toll these tragedies inflict. For coastal communities that rely heavily on fishing, the combination of loss of life and environmental degradation compounds existing economic vulnerabilities.
In light of the recurring maritime disasters, Villar called for regulatory agencies and shipping operators to take concrete and sustained actions to prevent loss of lives and endangerment of the country’s ecosystems.
