Iloilo oil spill clean-up to go ‘full-scale’ within 48 hours—Drilon

 AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The  clean-up and  containment efforts of the oil spill in Estancia, Iloilo  are expected  to go  “full-scale” within 48 hours, the deadline imposed by the Power Sector Assets and Liability Management (PSALM), Senate President Franklin Drilon said  on Thursday.

“I was informed by the National Power Corp. that they had already contracted yesterday Kuan Yu Global Technologies Inc. through the Power Sector Assets and Liability Management for the full-scale cleanup operations in Estancia,” Drilon said in a statement.

“The condition set by PSALM is for the winning bidder to mobilize within 48 hours after the award of contract. Given that, we expect that the clean-up operations will be intensified in the coming days,” he said.

Drilon said  the manpower and equipment for the full scale clean-up operations are expected to arrive by Friday.

“The P87-million contract will enable them to siphon and transfer the remaining fuel oil from the ship, as well as towing and re-floating of the stranded barge, oil spill containment and clean-up of the waste oil and debris, and full clean-up of the affected shoreline areas,” he said.

A power barge by the PSALM and operated by the National Power Corp. (Napocor), was swept aground  by strong winds when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” hit the province last November 8.

The Senate leader had  previously asked the Napocor to assume full responsibility on the incident and to fast-track the oil spill clean-up.

Drilon said  the barge was already sold to a company but  it was not awarded  to it yet.

“They are passing the buck on who should pay for the expenses to make sure that the oil spill is solved. So, I told Napocor just to do it because we cannot let these legal squabbles stop solving this problem,” he said.

“They can deal with the other issues surrounding the oil spill later. Right now they need to act with the most urgency, since the oil spill poses a serious health and environmental hazard to the areas affected.”

Drilon said the continued presence of the oil spill in Estancia was threatening the town’s well-being and livelihood.

“Thirty families had to be mandatorily evacuated since they were closest to the spill site, including children, the elderly, nursing mothers and those with ailments, while the remaining residents have to wear masks. These people are suffering,” he further said.

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