Oil spill seen thinning off Talisay City waters

An aerial inspection by experts and technical divers showed that the oil spill has thinned in the waters off Talisay City and neighboring areas yesterday.

“There is no potential to affect the shoreline but it needs to be inspected regularly,” French oil spill expert Franck Laruelle told Cebu Daily News,.

He said he expects the oil sheen to evaporate in due time.

“There is a thin oil sheen coming from the ship and every two hours it will just evaporate,” Laruelle said.

He said he will conduct a coastal inspection of the area for a follow-up assessment.

If the source of the oil slick won’t be removed, the oil will continue to be noticeable.

Laurelle said the oil’s “rainbow sheen” started to evaporate while its silver sheen is still visible in the waters of Talisay City and Cordova town.

The inspection included nearby Minglanilla town and Naga City.

Traces of oil were seen in Naga City but he said it could have come from industries operating in the city.

Laurelle said the oil slick that affected Cordova town’s mangrove plantations has diminished.

The 2GO management said it is waiting for equipment from Japan to siphon off the oil.

The removal of the remaining bunker oil leaking from the M/V St. Thomas Aquinas is expected to be done by Sept. 30. Recovery of the ship may take some time.

Fisherfolk in Talisay City whose livelihood were adversely affected by the August 16 sea tragedy received assistance from Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Gullas distributed two kilos of rice each to fisherfolk households in barangay Cansojong while staff members of Sen. Cayetano handed P215 cash to each household.

Last week, Gullas distributed rice in barangays Tangke and San Roque.

In an effort to prop up fish and seafood sales, Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes led city officials in partaking a seafood fare at the Tabunok Public Market last week. With Correspondents Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Jose Santino S. Bunachita