Mindoro oil spill reaches 3 barangays in Antique  

MANILA, Philippines — Three barangays in Caluya town in Antique have been affected by the oil spill from the motor tanker MT Princess Empress that sank off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday that coastal cleanup drives were conducted in Sitio Sabang in Barangay Tinogboc, Barangay Sibolo in Liwagao Island and Sitio Tambak in Barangay Semirara.

Around 150 families or 600 residents of Liwagao Island were affected by the oil spill, the PCG said.

As of yesterday, the volume of oil that had reached Sitio Sabang was around 10 drums and ”light or minimal” in Sitio Tambak, according to the Marine Environmental Protection Command of the PCG office in Western Visayas.

Jonie Belarmino, PCG-Western Visayas Marine Environmental Protection Force commander, said the oil spill could not be contained using spill booms because of big waves.

“Oil spill booms are applicable only if the waves’ height is .5 meters or less. Since the reported waves were three to four meters, oil spill booms are of no use. They cannot stop or redirect the movement of oil,” Belarmino said.

The motor tanker was loaded with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel when it sank.

Jansen Benjamin, PCG-Western Visayas spokesperson, said the wind condition and direction of the current have spared Boracay Island from the possible havoc of the oil spill.

Benjamin said the oil spill does not also present any threat to Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

20,000 hectares of coral reefs at risk

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the agency is focusing on saving marine protected areas in Naujan and Pola in Oriental Mindoro.

About 20,000 hectares of coral reefs, 9,900 hectares of mangroves and 6,000 hectares of seagrass may be affected by the oil slick, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) said in a statement issued yesterday.

The UP-MSI said coral reefs in Coron and Culion in Palawan as well as in 13 municipalities in Oriental Mindoro, two towns in Occidental Mindoro and Caluya in Antique are at risk.

Environmental group Oceana said the owner of the MT Princess Empress should pay for the damage caused by the oil spill and fund the rehabilitation of protected areas.

Oceana Philippines vice president Gloria Ramos said aquatic pollution is punishable under the Fisheries Code, Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Law.

She said concerned local government units can file criminal and civil charges against the vessel owner.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the sunken MT Princess Empress is owned by RDC Reield Marine Services Inc.

Supplemental budget, DSWD aid

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is prepared to approve a supplemental budget to help mitigate the impact of the oil spill, House committee on ways and means chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said.

”This is an event that could have devastating consequences to fish supply and tourism and will definitely affect hundreds of thousands of families if it gets out of hand,” Salceda said.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian started yesterday the distribution of aid under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations and cash-for-work programs to affected families.

Gatchalian said more than 7,000 families in Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Bongabong, Gloria and Bansud have received food packs since March 3. –  Janvic Mateo, Sheila Crisostomo, Jose Rodel Clapano