Rama asks 2GO: Remove source of oil spill

CEBU, Philippines - “Remove it. Sign the contract and remove it.”

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday told 2GO Ormoc manager Calvin Rosellosa, temporarily fielded in Cebu to supervise the cleanup in the oil spill-stricken Cordova town.

Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station Commander Weniel Azcuna revealed that they have sent a demand letter to the owner of sunken M/V St. Thomas Aquinas to remove trapped bunker fuel.

“As per protocol, it is the owner of the source of oil spill that is required to remove it. The demand letter was already sent to 2Go informing them that they have to remove it soonest,” Azcuna announced at the Cebu City Hall command conference.

Rosellosa explained to the mayor that they are waiting for the signing of contract and the availability of equipment to be used by 2GO-tapped joint team of Malayan Towage and Salvage Corporation and Nippon Salvage.

Rama stressed the importance of expediting the removal because this would also mean “removing the (oil spill) problem in Cordova.”

He then asked Rosellosa to give them good news in today’s command conference.As Azcuna reported, the ongoing clceanup operations by coast guard, Philippine Navy and volunteers, he also raised the concern over the planned coastal cleanup this Saturday headed by Environmental Management Bureau of DENR.

“We would like to express our concern in tapping these students in the cleanup operations at the oil spill-stricken Cordova,” the coast guard commander told Rama, adding even trained officials use protective gears to prevent contacting ill effects of oil from the coastline to be cleaned.

The mayor, after reading the official communication from DENR, concurred with Azcuna and advised against using these students that includes minors in cleaning the oil spill.

DOH 7 Regional Director Asuncion Anden, attending the meeting, also said inviting students on oil spill cleanup drive must be taken with caution.

The students will be used in producing the coconut husk oil spill boom which is less dangerous than actually cleaning up in Cordova.

Meanwhile, coastal guard reported total survivors reaching 723 with 81casualties, 53 missing, and three unaccounted victims.

He further revealed that one body was recovered yesterday morning at the ongoing retrieval operations. — (FREEMAN)