Metro Manila, Philippines – A seven-man team from the United States Coast Guard will help the government manage the oil spill off Bataan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday, July 31.
PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the group is composed of the US Coast Guard marine environmental protection team and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
They will visit the area where MTKR Terranova sank. The tanker carried 1.4 million liters of industrial oil when it capsized off Limay, Bataan on July 25.
“They are going to ground zero, probably on August 5,” Balilo said in a virtual briefing.
“Hindi ko sinasabi na mapapadali. They will lend their expertise, siguro ‘yung aftermath ng oil spill, ‘yung coastal management. ‘Yung NOAA would advise us doon sa klase ng panahon na meron ‘tsaka ‘yung tamang diskarte sa klase ng panahon na meron tayo dito sa Pilipinas. Du’n sila makakatulong,” he said.
[Translation: I’m not saying it would make things easier. They will lend their expertise, maybe in the aftermath of the oil spill, coastal management. The NOAA would advise us on the right strategy, considering the Philippine weather. They can help in that way.]
Fishermen’s woes
People have reported traces of oil sheen in nearby provinces such as Bulacan and Cavite.
Cavite has declared a state of calamity over Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate. The local government also announced a no-catch zone for all shellfish in the province’s vicinity.
A fisher group called on the government to take responsibility for the incident.
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said around 27,000 fishers in Cavite would be affected if the oil further spreads.
“Malaking kapabayaan ng gobyerno kung bukod sa hindi maaagapan ang pagkalat ng langis, ay walang suportang matatanggap ang mga apektadong mangingisda,” Pamalakaya vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo said in a statement.
[Translation: It will be a huge neglect of the government if they cannot avert the oil spill and if they would not provide support to affected fishermen.]
BFAR told to provide aid
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to assist affected fisherfolk.
“For now we can only give fuel vouchers so fishermen can go to nearby fishing grounds,” Laurel said. “I also asked BFAR to coordinate with DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) so the agency can also give food packs to affected fisherfolk.”
BFAR has yet to release its assessment on damaged areas, as well as the results of water samples around the sunken tanker to determine the presence of oil, grease, and harmful contaminants.
Laurel said the bureau also provided dispersants to help treat the spilled oil.
Based on the PCG patrol, it said the oil sheen that spread from the sunken tanker is “very minimal.”
Siphoning has yet to start pending the full sealing of the tanker’s valves. As of posting time, 19 out of the 24 valves were sealed.
Less than a liter of oil is leaking per hour, the PCG said.
NewsWatch Plus multiplatform producer Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring contributed to this report.
