Rough seas hamper delivery of fuel products to Batanes

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Rough seas have been hampering the delivery of fuel to the island province of Batanes, which has been experiencing power outages due to a fuel shortage since last month.

According to Batanes Gov. Vicente Gato, an augmentation shipment of 100,000 liters of petroleum products has already arrived at the Basco port but this cannot be unloaded due to inclement weather. 

Since last month, only two fuel shipments were made to Batanes, with the first 55,000 liters arriving on June 28, and the second shipment of 114,000 liters only last July 14, forcing the Batanes electric cooperative to cut its operations.

The second fuel shipment was allocated for the province’s main island of Batan with 90,000 liters, and the rest for Sabtang and Itbayat islands.

Batan is where the towns of Mahatao, Uyugan, Ivana and Basco, the capital, are located. Batanes’ two other towns, Itbayat and Sabtang, are situated on separate islands.

“The supply of fuel in Itbayat is good only until today (July 20). Its allocation is there but we cannot bring it to the island town due to the rough seas,” he said.

Earlier, the Tuguegarao City-based regional office of the state-run Philippine Information Agency reported that the province has been placed under a state of calamity due to the fuel shortfall. – With Jack Castaño III