The oil spill that hit at least four Cavite coastal towns has been contained, but residents continue to relay their experience and what it meant to their livelihood and health. In Rosario town, meanwhile, residents were able to exchange the diesel they gathered from the sea over the weekend for rice and canned sardines through a local government exchange scheme. VIDEO by Cathy Miranda of INQUIRER.net
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard check and get samples from an oil spill area off Rosario, Cavite. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Petron Corporation on Monday claimed responsibility for the oil spill in Cavite last week, which affected at least four coastal towns that also turned parts of Manila Bay red.
“At this stage, we take responsibility for this unfortunate incident. We sincerely apologize and assure all the communities affected that we will strive to resolve the situation at the soonest possible time,” Petron President Lubin B. Nepomuceno said.
“We will pursue proper remediation and clean-up of the areas affected, aiming to restore the means of livelihood of the local communities. In the meantime, we will continue to give the assistance needed by residents affected by the spill,” he added.
On Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed their earlier report that the oil spill was indeed caused by a leak from the submerged pipeline of Petron.
Aerial survey of PCG showed that an estimated 500,000 liters of diesel might have leaked in Manila Bay.
Related tory
Coast Guard confirms Petron underwater pipe leak caused oil spill in Cavite