Bataan oil spill to spare Metro Manila – PCG

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday, July 30, that the oil spill from the sunken motor tanker off Bataan will not reach Metro Manila shores.

This contradicts projections of the UP Marine Science Institute that the oil slick may affect waters off the capital region.

On Tuesday, the PCG conducted an aerial surveillance over the metropolis and nearby provinces to monitor the impact of the oil spill.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan said the situation is under control.

“Clear ang waters along the coastline. Walang nakitang any signs of oil spill, except for very very thin pockets of oil sheen,” said Gavan.

[Translation: The waters along the coastline are clear. There are no signs of oil spill, except for very thin pockets of oil sheen]

Gavan said there were no longer signs of oil spill in parts of Bulacan and Cavite as of Tuesday morning.

Environmental group Greenpeace earlier shared a drone photo of a supposed oil slick, saying that oil from the tanker has spread to the waters of Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla also said the spill has reached the towns of Ternate, Maragondon, Naic, and parts of Tanza.

“Kung mayroong mga sightings, posibleng may mangyaring sightings dahil may mga nauna nang nai-release but we have done containment measures,” said Gavan.

[Translation: If there are sightings, that’s possible because there were previously released reports. But we have done containment measures]

Gavan said the Bataan oil slick is “not as bad” as the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, which left multi-billion pesos in damage to the environment.

The PCG said the siphoning process may begin on Wednesday once the sealing of remaining valves and pipes that leaked are done. As of July 30, 14 of the 24 valves were sealed.

“Iyong pag-siphon ng 300,000 liters of IFO na cargo ng barko will take around 6-7 days. Dahil around 50,000 to 60,000 liters per day ang rate ng pag-siphon… Sa computation ng salvor, it is enough na lulutang iyong barko at pwede nating hilahin on safer grounds para iyong remaining oil na cargo noong vessel can be safely removed,” he said.

[Translation: The siphoning of 300,000 liters of the vessel’s industrial fuel oil will take around 6-7 days. Because the daily rate of the siphoning process takes 50,000 to 60,000 liters per day. Based on computation, it’s enough for the vessel to float until we can tow it to safer grounds and safely remove the remaining oil.]