PCG: Siphon off Aquinas fuel; Clean-up, retrieval continue

In order to contain the oil spill, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has suggested the extraction of the remaining oil inside the MV St. Thomas Aquinas.

Commodore William Melad, PCG district commander, said the focus of their operation for now is coastal clean up and removal of pollutants.

But this does not mean the retrieval of bodies trapped in the sunken vessel will be dis continued.

There are 59 technical divers including civilian volunteer technical experts who are continuing with the retrieval of the missing and unaccounted passengers and crew of the sea mishap.

Navforcen chief Commodore Reynaldo Yoma said “Our operation depends on our technical divers who actually see the picture inside the vessel.”

However, he noted that “no amount of clean-up will be enough if we won’t extract the oil from the ship.”

He said two firms—Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp. and the Nippon Salvage were contracted by 2GO Shipping Corporation to remove the remaining oil inside the sunken ship.

Special equipment to siphon the remaining oil in the sunken MV St. Thomas Aquinas is also on its way to Cebu from Japan, and is expected to arrive nine days from now.

“To my understanding, we’re doing good on the use of indigenous materials in removing the oil. But human hair is definitely discouraged,” he said.

Melad also urged those involved in the clean-up not to touch the mangroves which are affected with oil.

Meanwhile, an expert from the University of the Philippines – Visayas said the oil spill has seriously damaged not just the mangroves but also other coastal and marine habitats like coral reefs and sea grasses.

Dr. Dr. Resurrecion “Rex” Sadaba, of the University of the Philippines – Visayas, said that “Those marine habitats are sensitive in which they are dynamically link to each other, and they are now in critical state.”

He said fishes can move to other areas where there is no threat from hazardous chemicals.

Sadaba has warned against employing water flushing, stem cleaning, sand blasting, sediment removing and applying of dispersants on mangroves as it will just cause the death of the mangrove.

“There must also no mangrove cutting and aggressive planting, just leave them alone and they will just recover naturally,” he added./with a report from Jose Santino Bunachita