Oil spill in Iloilo prompts forced evacuation
MANILA, Philippines - The provincial government of Iloilo yesterday enforced a compulsory evacuation of almost 5,000 residents of Barangay Botongan in the coastal town of Estancia where an oil spill was reported after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Police and military authorities were sent to the village to compel residents to leave their homes and transfer to the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. ordered the forced evacuation after Marlyn Convocar, Department of Health (DOH) regional director, said residents refused to vacate the area despite the risk posed by the oil spill.
A team composed of toxicology experts from the DOH, East Avenue Medical Center, and the Philippine General Hospital was tapped to monitor the activities of the affected households.
Meanwhile, PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said effort is ongoing to clean up the waters off Estancia town as 43,000 liters of oil and close to 40 tons of oily debris have been collected. – With Evelyn Macairan
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