Oil spill hastens deterioration of river

DAGUPAN CITY—The release of some 300 liters of oil from a capsized fishing boat into the Balincaguing River in Agno, Pangasinan, last week has alarmed local residents, who say it could happen again and hasten the river’s deterioration.

Lydia Colobong, vice president of the Agno Concerned Citizens for Ecologically Secured and Sustainable Development Inc., said the incident should serve as a wake-up call for the town’s officials to act now.

On April 18, a fishing boat docked at the Balincaguing River in Barangay Dangley tilted during low tide and spilled about 20 liters of engine oil, 60 liters of diesel fuel and 200 liters of standby fuel into the waterway.

Colobong said the local government should not have allowed fishing boats to enter the river, where these are cleaned after trips in the West Philippine Sea.

“During the cleaning, the crew just throw everything into the river, including used oil. That’s why even the fish caught in the river now smell of oil and the Umbrella Rocks now have oil traces,” she said.

The Balincaguing River, which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources classified as Class B, or suited for recreational activities, is a major river system that originates from the Zambales mountains and snakes through the towns of Mabini, Burgos and Agno, all in Pangasinan, before draining out to the West Philippine Sea.

Near its mouth is the Umbrella Rocks, the town’s major tourist attraction.

But Mayor Jose Pejeta Jr. said he had ordered a cleanup of the area to prevent the spilled oil from spreading. He said the local government will draw out a policy to prevent river pollution.

He said local officials are also planning to stop fishing boats from entering the river.

Colobong said the river’s deterioration began when fish cages and other fishing structures were installed eight years ago.