PCG probes oil spill in Batangas City

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Authorities are investigating an oil spill that reportedly occurred in the waters off Barangay Tabangao Aplaya in Batangas City on Saturday night.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Batangas district said city officials and representatives of a fuel firm that operates an oil refinery in the area informed them of the incident at around 8 p.m.

The PCG dispatched its marine environment protection unit and oil spill team to the area to verify the report.

Residents told the team they saw thick, slimy substances clinging to the rocks found along the shore of Barangay Tabangao.

The city disaster risk reduction management office said it would conduct its own investigation to determine the source of the leak.

The spill has been contained as of 3 a.m. yesterday, according to Col. Edwin Quilates, Batangas police director.

The PCG said the leak could have come from oil pipelines or vessels passing through the area.

It denied reports that the spill affected a hectare  of the shore.

The fuel firm denied the leak came from their pipeline.

“We have an automatic monitoring system for pipeline leaks. So far, the system issued no warning,” a security officer of the company said.