PCG: Oil spill may affect parts of Bataan, Cavite

Philippine Coast Guard (PCCG) personnel prepare to deploy an oil spill containment boom and skimmer at a port in Limay, Bataan on Friday, July 26, 2024. A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila on July 25, authorities said, as they raced against time to contain the spill. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa / Agence France-Presse)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday said that they meet with concerned local government unit (LGUs) officials in Bataan and Cavite regarding the extent of the oil spill off Bataan.

“Kahapon, northeast ‘yong trajectory ng oil pero ngayon parang ang southwest, ibig sabihin, Nasugbu, Naig, at dyan sa Mariveles at tsaka Cavite. Ayan ‘yong kailangang kausapin at maghanda,” PCG Spokesperson Rear Admiral Arman Balilo said in an online briefing.

(Yesterday, the trajectory of the oil was northeast but now, it seems like it shifted southwest, meaning, Nasugbu, Naig, Mariveles and Cavite. We need to talk to them so they can prepare.)

The PCG on Saturday said that the oil from the sunken Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova started to leak into Manila Bay and is now estimated to stretch between 12 to 14 kilometers across the bay.

The MT Terra Nova, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel capsized and eventually sank some seven kilometers east of Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan on Thursday morning. 

Balilo said that divers spotted  a minimal leak from the valves of the sunken tanker.

“Manageable pa pero katulad nung sinasabi ko, hindi tayo papakampante. We notify ‘yong local government units na pwedeng maapektuhan nito para makapagprepare,” he added.

(This is still manageable but like what I have said, we must not be complacent. We will notify local government units that may be affected so they can prepare.)

 “We are trying to do our best para hindi maapektuhan ‘yong mga kababayan nating mangingisda,” Balilo noted. 

(We are trying to do our best so the fishermen will not be affected.)

PCG also reported that a vessel from Batangas will be arriving on Saturday afternoon or night to transfer the oil from MT Terra Nova.

 “Ang ginagawa ngayon ay minomobilize lahat ng equipment na kailangan para wala nang problema sa siphoning tomorrow.”

 (We are mobilizing all the equipment needed so there will be no problem with the siphoning tomorrow.)

“May mga divers na tutulong para magkabit ng hose sa mga tangke. Pagkatapos non, mayroong makina na gagamitin para sumipsip. Mayroon ding nakahandang mga bags katulad ng ginamit sa Mindoro just in case may leak sa ibang area. Parang katulad no’ng sa Mindoro, sasaluhin yung tapon ng langis habang sinisiphon para hindi na umangat sa dagat.” 

(Divers will help in attaching the hose to the tanks. After that, we will use machines. There are also bags like the ones used in Mindoro [oil spill] just in case there are leaks in other areas. It will catch the oil leak while siphoning so it does not surface.)