Over 84% of coastline hit by Mindoro oil spill now cleaned -Palace

OIL SPILL Together with an oil spill boom and skimmer, Philippine Coast Guard  the area where oil tanker MT Princess Empress sank northeast of Balingawan Port, Lucta Port, and Buloc Bay in Oriental Mindoro on March 14, 2023. (File photo from Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation via Philippine Coast Guard)

The clean up of the coastline of Mindoro Oriental, which was affected by an oil spill, is nearly complete.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) reported 62 kilometers of the 74 kilometers of affected coastline had been cleaned as of May 10, 2023.

This accounts for 84 percent of the operation.

PCO cited a report from Defense Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

The report also said seawater in the seven towns of the province are now within acceptable standards for fishing.

These areas are Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, San Teodoro, Baco, and Puerto Galera,

However, places within the vicinity of the submerged ship are still off limits, PCO said.

Oil spill hit the coastline when fuel tanker MT Princess Empress ran aground in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on February 28, 2023.

This was because of engine trouble.

The boat sank the next day.

MT Princess Empress was carrying about 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.

READ: 193,436 residents in 3 regions affected by Oriental Mindoro oil spill – NDRRMC

A siphoning vessel from Singapore is expected to arrive in the country by the end of the month.

This boat will be used for the clean up that is estimated to last for 30 more days, PCO said.

APL