Boom to be installed vs spill at SRP today

CEBU, Philippines - An oil spill boom made of coconut husk and leaves from the Cogon plant will be installed at the South Road Properties today to prevent the oil spill from the sunken M/V St. Thomas Aquinas from reaching Cebu City shores.

Authorities said the boom is necessary especially with the northeast monsoon of hanging Amihan threatening to push the spill to Cebu City.

“Sugdan natog butang today ang oil spill boom made of coconut husk and cogon leaves. This will be 20 meters long from SRP up to the bridge leading to Talisay City,” said Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak.

Early yesterday morning, Tumulak found out that the boom installed initially was cut by some fishermen. Because of this, Bantay Dagat Director Arnulfo Sebusa called for a meeting with fishermen living in the area to explain the importance of the boom.

The fishermen understood and even offered to help make more booms. They also pledged to coordinate with authorities in monitoring the spill.

“Gipabantayan sa bantay dagat 24/7 ang area aron dili na mausab nga giputol. Napasabot napud ang mga fisherfolks nga that is for their own good and for the protection of our waters. Gisug-an na ug sodium lamps ang agianan para makita sa mga muagi nga fisherfolks. Naghatag pud ta ug number nila aron kung maka-notice sila ug maka notice sila nga musulod na ang oil sa atong area, they can alert us,” Tumulak said.

Once alerted, the CCDRRMO, Bantay Dagat, and SRP Police will immediately respond with vehicles on standby to transfer the collected oil manually and install additional oil spill booms.

Means of livelihood of those living along the shoreline mainly composed of fishermen and shell gatherers, as well as the mangroves forest is feared to be affected once the oil reach the shores of coastal barangays in Cebu City, Tumulak said.

Another 50 meters of coconut husk oil spill boom was set up yesterday in the interior portion of the waterway near the Talisay bridge, further protecting Cebu City waterways, said Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMO) operations officer Alvin Santillana.

Tumulak earlier revealed the possibility of oil entering Cebu City waters once southwest monsoon shifts into northeast monsoon or from Habagat to Amihan.

The councilor stressed this is not to alarm the public but more of a proactive measure.

The coastal barangays threatened by the oil include Inayawan, Cogon, Basak Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Mambaling, and Duljo Fatima.

Tumulak said, though, that these areas do not have as many fishermen as Talisay City and Cordova town, which was first affected by the spill.

The M/V St. Thomas Aquinas has spilled oil after it sank after colliding with the cargo ship M/V Sulpicio Express Siete off Lawis Ledge last August 16.

Bantay Dagat members are constantly monitoring the movement of the spill every two hours, said Director Arnulfo Sebusa.

During Thursday’s command conference at the Cebu City Hall presided by Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, the Department of Health 7 issued an advisory against swimming and eating fish from oil spill stricken areas.

“Because of the hazard that oil spill brings, we advise the public to refrain from taking a bath in Cordova, SRP, and Talisay City barangays of Cansojong, Tanke, and Larawan beach in Poblacion,” Dr. Expedito Medalle from DOH 7 said, adding those exposed to contaminated water may get contact dermatitis among other skin diseases.

Azcuna also said Thursday that the volume of oil leaking has “tremendously reduced” with spill reaching Talisay City but “very minimal because of change of current.”

As of yesterday, total casualties rose to 97. Unlike the previous days, data from both Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu station commander Weniel Azcuna and Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes manager Engr. Bong Ebo were synchronized.

As of yesterday, a total of 97 bodies have been retrieved, 59 of which have already been identified and 33 unidentified plus three body parts.

Moreover, 51 bodies have so far been released to relatives with 43 more at Cosmopolitan custody and another 8 ready for shipment.

Also, one 2GO crew was earlier discharged from Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and admitted again at Chong Hua due to pneumonia.

Azcuna further reported that since law enforcement agencies like coast guard, navy, and PNP are involved at the ongoing cleanup in oil-spill stricken Cordova, they will eventually pull out and have agreed with 2GO that they will hire private entity to oversee the cleanup.  (FREEMAN)