‘Declare state of calamity in Ilocos Norte due to oil spill’

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Currimao town will ask the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare a state of calamity in Ilocos Norte after an oil spill spread to three more towns in the province.

Lt. Edison Abanilla, PCG-Currimao station commander, said at least 1,200 liters of bunker fuel have so far been recovered in the cleanup.

The oil spill has reached coastal villages in the towns of Badoc, Currimao, Paoay and Baccarra.

The oil spill was believed to have originated from a Myanmar vessel that sank off Bolinao, Pangasinan.

The provincial board of La Union earlier approved a resolution placing the province under a state of calamity due to the oil spill to enable local officials in the affected coastal areas to utilize their calamity funds in the cleanup to prevent further damage to the environment. – Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca