Coast Guard seek help in tracing oil spill source

CEBU, Philippines - The subordinate station of the Philippine Coast Guard based in Dumanjug, Cebu still has no lead on the shipping vessel operator responsible for disposing oil in Tañon Strait, which places the marine ecosystem of the protected seascape at risk to toxic substances.

Traces of black-colored oil washed off to the shores in Moalboal town, Cebu last week alerted marine conservationist urging the concerned agencies and offices to enforce the general management plan slated for Tañon Strait, the largest protected seascape in the country.

PCG Cebu Station commander Agapito Bibat ordered the personnel from Dumaguete-based Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Tangil to coordinate with residents and local officials concerned to identify the shipping vessel that may have passed near their respective communities.

Ivan Delotrico, one of the petty officers of CGSS Tangil, told The Freeman yesterday that the source of the oil spillage still remains a big “question mark.”

“Wala pay lead pero nag-ingon mi sa mga residente ug local officials nga if nakakita sila nga naay ni-agi, kon posible ba ma-identify nila kon unsa to nga barko,” he said.

“Sa pagkakaron, nangita pa lang mi og witness sa kon kinsa ang maka-identify sa vessel,” he added.

It was morning on June 10, Friday, when locals and divers found traces of oil in the waters off Moalboal town. Some of the spilled oil washed off to the shorelines in the coastal barangays of Moalboal and its nearby islet such as the Pescador Island, a famous diving site.

Sightings of oil spill prompted the residents, local officials, and other concerned stakeholders to launch a massive clean-up drive.

Evening on the same day, Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council reportedly alerted PCG – Station Cebu, which tapped CCGS Tangil to verify the report.

In Pescador Island, the team found the oil spill covering the shoreline more or less three kilometers in length and immediately conducted oil spill cleanup operations at the vicinity.

The team reportedly collected approximately 30 sacks of debris contaminated with oil water mixture.

Dawn the following day, a composite team from CGSS Tangil and PDRRMO conducted foot patrol and surface inspection within the vicinity and to adjacent areas and found negative presence of oil. They also conducted seaborne patrol and found no more sightings of oil sheen in the area. Simultaneous operations were terminated afterwards.

“(Unfortunately) we were not able to get sample for laboratory testing of the oil spill that reached the shoreline, it was already cleaned up,” Bibat said in a separate interview.

He said the maritime security agency has put preventive measures to avoid the same incident from happening.

If a vessel weights more than 200 gross tonnages, the shipping vessel should be installed with an oil–water separator, which is the equipment used to separate oil and water mixtures into their separate components.

“We always check the vessels before they sail. We cannot be authorized to sail if their oil-water separator is found dysfunctional,” he said.

Bibat pointed out, however, that securing the waters from harmful human activities is a concerted effort with other stakeholders.

PCG-Station Cebu is also coordinating with the Environmental Management Bureau-7, which is a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

A team from EMB-7 conducted an ambient water quality monitoring yesterday afternoon in the areas where the spill was sighted.

In another interview, Engr. Cindylyn Pepito, chief of Ambient Quality Monitoring Section of EMB-7, said the team collected samples from the sea near the shorelines in Barangay Basdiot, Moalboal and the nearby islet, Pescador Island.

She said the samples will be analyzed at their laboratory as soon as possible. Results may be released within the week but she assured that analysis for the samples will be prioritized.

Laboratory procedures will determine the quality of surface water whether it has been contaminated with toxic substances.

During the ocular inspection, the team observed traces of oil present on plastic buoys and some rocks.

She said the presence of oil chemical in the water can be toxic and hazardous to aquatic life. If ingested, it can affect the nervous system of marine animals. It can also disrupt oxygen flow in the sea water.

Tañon Strait is a critical habitat and important migratory path for 14 of the 27 species of whales and dolphins in the Philippines.

It is a rich fishing ground for coastal dwellers in 42 cities and municipalities between Cebu and Negros Islands.

Moalboal is part of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, a famous dive spot and tourist destination known for its rich coral reef and diverse marine species such as the sea turtles.

Reports on oil spill alerted the local counterpart of Oceana, the largest international ocean conservation and advocacy organization.

“We should be more proactive in protecting our marine resources. This unfortunate incident emphasizes the urgent need for the implementation of the General Management Plan (GMP) in Tañon Strait, which would require strict no-go zones and clear designated routes for vessels in the area. The local government units and the Protected Area Management Body should likewise closely scrutinize the operation of polluting industries, and prohibit hazardous emissions and discharges,” said lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president for Oceana Philippines, in a statement.

She pointed out that monitoring systems for all types of vessels passing through the protected area should be put in place.

“It is time to start identifying navigational lanes in relation to critical areas in the Strait that are coral-rich and pathways for marine mammals and fisheries,” she said.

Threats on human activities such as overfishing, unregulated coastal development and pollution persist despite the area’s protected status, damaging fish habitats and adversely affecting the livelihoods of artisanal fisherfolk. (FREEMAN)