Efforts on to contain spill of used oil in Palawan

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said they will coordinate with local officials in Palawan to remove an estimated 40 liters of used oil that washed ashore on the coast of Puerto Princesa City yesterday morning.

In a text message sent to PCG commandant Vice Admiral Damian Carlos, Palawan district commander Captain Henry Caballero confirmed the report of an oil spill at Purok Sandiwa in Barangay Tiniguiban.

The report was received by James Viernes, who was on duty at the PCG’s Puerto Princesa station, at around 8:15 a.m. yesterday.

Caballero said the PCG, including its Marine Environment Protection Unit, dispatched teams to the site to contain the oil slick and conduct cleanup operations.

He assured that the "used oil has no trace at sea," but local officials said the oil damaged the environment on the coast, particularly the mangroves.

A PCG official said in a television interview aired yesterday that the oil spill is about 70 meters long and one meter wide.