Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 10) – An oil spill was detected in the vicinity waters off Barangay Benit, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte on Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported Monday.
The PCG said the incident occurred approximately 500 meters from LCT Georgia-1 – one of the two suspected vessels that caused the oil slick.
The ship captain, Dioel Ganuhay, said the crew saw the oil spill 13 minutes after docking at the Port of Benit. LCT Georgia-1 came from the Port of Lipata, Surigao del Norte.
Ramacho said while there’s no need for an oil spill boom for containment, clean-up operations were conducted along the shoreline.
The PCG collected five sacks of oily debris at around 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The PCG Marine Environmental Protection Group-Southern Leyte also conducted oily water mixture sampling on LCT Georgia-1 and MV San Ric Ferry 20.
At around 5 p.m. on Friday, Donna Liza Ramacho, Coast Guard Station Southern Leyte commander, reported minimal traces of oil in the water.
Latest report from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showed that the oil spill affected 297 families or 1,118 people from the two barangays.
