Oil spill: 8 Cavite towns declare calamity

MANILA, Philippines — Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla yesterday declared a state of calamity in the towns of Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon and Ternate following the sinking of oil tankers in the neighboring province of Bataan.

A no-catch zone has been implemented for all shellfish in the province.

The provincial government is meeting for the immediate distribution of relief goods for 25,000 affected fisherfolk, Remulla said.

Meanwhile, a seven-man team of marine environment and weather experts from the US will arrive this weekend to assist the Philippines in responding to the oil spill in Manila Bay, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Experts from the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will visit the site of the oil spill in Limay, Bataan, PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said yesterday.

On July 25, oil tanker Terra Nova, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, submerged 3.6 nautical miles off Lamao Point in Limay.

“They will be going to ‘ground zero’ probably on Aug. 5. If I am not mistaken, this is composed of the marine environmental protection team of the USCG and NOAA,” Balilo said.

“They intend to lend their expertise on the conduct of the salvage operations,” he added.

There is no information on whether the USCG would bring any equipment with them, Balilo said.

“It might just be small equipment that they could use for testing,” he noted.

The experts’ presence does not mean that salvaging operations would be faster, he maintained.

“They will lend their expertise, maybe in the aftermath of the oil spill and the coastal management. NOAA will advise us on the kind of weather and what would be the best strategy to apply, given the kind of weather that we have in the country. They will be the ones that could help us in these aspects,” Balilo said.

Divers of salvor Harbor Star have not yet completed the sealing and capping of all 24 valves and pipes of the 65-meter Terra Nova, according to PCG Bataan station commander Lieutenant Commander Michael John Encina.

He said that a barge carrying the siphoning equipment, as well as Terra Nova’s sister ship MT Helena Marie, are already at the site.

Around 300,000 liters of industrial fuel would be transferred from Terra Nova to Helena Marie, which would be enough for the sunken ship to float and be towed to shore.

The siphoning process would then continue, removing around 50,000 to 60,000 liters of industrial fuel a day.

It could take seven to 10 days.

As for reports that MV Mirola 1 is leaking after it ran aground in Mariveles, Bataan, Encina said Terra Nova is their primary concern.

Mirola 1 is only carrying its working fuel, diesel, which dissipates on water or sunlight exposure, he noted.

Based on a GMA News Online report, the National Bureau of Investigation said Mirola 1’s crew allegedly pilfered more than 30,000 liters of diesel last year.

Since Terra Nova’s oil leak has been minimal, or less than one liter per hour, Encina said that oil spill booms intended for Terra Nova had been placed around Mirola 1 as a precaution.

As for MT Jason Bradley, which sank in Mariveles, Bataan, authorities are waiting for the arrival of a tugboat that would siphon 5,500 liters of diesel.

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In Bataan, the towns of Samal and Abucay are seeking donations of coconut husks, corn hair, human hair and other materials to assemble an organic oil spill boom.

Samal is known for its tahong or green mussels, oysters and capiz shells while Abucay has a huge tahong farm in Manila Bay.

Samal Mayor Alex Acuzar on Sunday called for an emergency meeting to discuss Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia III’s instruction to be alert and prepare for the oil spill.

There are around 3,000 fishermen in Samal.

Oil spill to reach Batangas

The oil spill will reach Barangay Quilitisan in Calatagan, Batangas on Friday, according to the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

It might reach Malabon City on Friday.

The oil spill will reach today Noveleta and Corregidor Island in Cavite and Barangay Luyahan in Lian, Batangas.

Fuel subsidy

Fishers affected by the Bataan oil spill will be provided with fuel subsidies, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

There is enough fish supply in the country despite the oil spill and the recent onslaught of monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Carina, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel De Mesa said at a press conference.

“We have fuel assistance for the affected fishermen. They can do their fishing activities far from the oil spill and then we have the Quick Response Fund for the alternative livelihood for our fishers,” he said.

“The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) did not issue a (fishing) ban. We let the local government units and the coast guard declare if there will be a ban,” he added.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also assist affected farmers, De Mesa noted.

A minimal increase in the retail price of fish is expected despite the oil spill, he said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the BFAR to assist fishers.

The BFAR, he said, is currently assessing damaged areas to determine what assistance will be provided to fishers.

The agency also engaged third-party laboratories to test water samples around Terra Nova to determine the presence of oil and grease, including harmful contaminants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

“For now, we can only give fuel vouchers so fishermen can go to nearby fishing grounds. I also asked the BFAR to coordinate with DSWD so the agency can also give food packs to affected fisherfolk,” Tiu Laurel said.

Dispersants are also being provided by the BFAR to help treat the oil spill. — Bella Cariaso, Ric Sapnu