Pasig River oil spill contained

MANILA, Philippines - An oil spill at a warehouse in Sta. Ana, Manila caused alarm among residents who complained of a foul smell on fears of a possible gas leak late Saturday.

Officials of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and police went to the area and reported that the situation was put under control early yesterday.

This was after couple Melvin and Nevita Ramos were rushed to hospital after experiencing shortness of breath due to the foul smell. Both are now in stable condition.

Gilbert Selestino, head of MDRRMO, said the oil leak was traced to a warehouse where tanks of bunker fuel were stored. The warehouse was listed as being owned by L & M Merchandising, with a certain Teresita Enriquez as proprietor.

Selestino said a pipe connected to a large tank at the warehouse along Old Panaderos Street burst and spilled some 15,000 liters of oil into the Pasig River.

It was found that the busted pipe appeared to have been hastily repaired and covered with plastic.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the oil spill occurred around 2 a.m. yesterday.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said the Coast Guard’s Pasig Station and Marine Environmental Protection Unit - National Capital Region went to the area and made a lower estimate of l00 liters of bunker fuel spilling into the Pasig River.

He said the initial findings of the team led by Capt. Rolando Lizor Punzalan also showed the spill came from the depot of L & M.

The oil spill caused foul odor in Sta. Ana and Pandacan districts to as far as Malacañang.

Panicky residents thought there was a deadly gas leak. Residents within a 100-meter radius were immediately evacuated, added Selestino.

Selestino though clarified the site is far from the major oil depot in Pandacan.

Presidential deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said the local government of Manila under Mayor Alfredo Lim has already addressed the situation.

“The LGU of Manila has been exerting efforts. They have been swift in their response. They sent disaster officials right away,” Valte said.

The oil spill affected the Pasig River that also runs through Malacañang Palace and Bahay Pangarap, the official office and residence, respectively, of President Aquino.

“We’ve been also just getting the information from them (Manila officials) since they are the ones on the frontline, and I understand that their concern right now is to contain the spread of the oil spill,” Valte said.

Valte said the Presidential Security Group (PSG) under Gen. Chito Dizon is “fully aware of the situation,” to assess whether it would be prudent for Aquino to stay in his residence despite the foul odor coming from the river.

“We will let PSG assess that. The PSG is already aware of the situation,” she said.  -Delon Porcalla, Rainier Allan Ronda, Iris Gonzales