BY VICTOR REYES and Paul Icamina
ORIENTAL Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor yesterday said more than 13,000 families in the province, most of them fisherfolks, have been affected by the oil spill caused by the sinking of an oil tanker off Naujan town last February 28.
Dolor said the oil spill, which now has reached the shores of northern Panay and Palawan, has affected 90 coastal barangays of the province’s nine municipalities.
“It’s unfortunate; we already have more than 13,000 families (affected), these are the registered fisherfolks, this does not include those who are not registered,” Dolor said, adding he has asked the province’s social welfare officer to identify the families of unregistered fishermen affected by the incident.
“This morning, I issued a directive to our provincial welfare officer to revalidate the list because as of yesterday, the final list given to me was only 13,257, these are the registered fisherfolks and (fish) vendors. That doesn’t include the unregistered,” said Dolor
Dolor also reported that authorities have located the tanker that was transporting 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it figured in the mishap. The ship also had 10,000 liters of diesel fuel.
“In the middle of an inter-agency meeting, we received a call from DENR Secretary Loyzaga who said they’ve located the sunken vessel,” Dolor said without giving further details.
A statement from the DENR said that BRP Hydrographer, from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, has located the site of the vessel.
“The site is about 1,200 feet or approximately 400 meters below sea level. It is located about northeast of Pola, Oriental Mindoro but it is believed to have moved southeast from its last known position where it completely submerged,” the DENR said.
Dolor said authorities started distributing food assistance to families affected by the oil spill last Friday, adding more government assistance are underway.
“We need to submit supplemental (data) to the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) for assistance,” said Dolor.
Dolor said the oil spill has affected the waters of nine municipalities.
“Seventy coastal barangays were affected by the oil spill that reached the shoreline of only 13 barangays,” said Dolor.
Dolor said has issued a directive to fishermen not to go fishing due to hazards posed by the oil spill and asking people not to swim in affected areas.
“As of yesterday, we have already recorded nine oil spill-related illnesses. They (illnesses) included severe headache, chest pain, vomiting, skin rashes. But they are already okay, they were given treatment by our rural health unit. They were brought to the hospital and all are now in good condition,” said Dolor.
OIL SPILL TRAJECTORY
Marine scientists at the University of the Philippines (UP) Marine Science Institute (MSI), UP Visayas (UPV), and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology are monitoring the trajectory of the oil slick, which has reached the shores of three villages in Northern Panay and Cuyo, Palawan.
MSI scientists estimated that 9,900 hectares of mangroves and 6,000 hectares of seagrass may be affected by the oil slick.
Among the coastal sites that may be at risk are several marine protected areas, including but not limited, to reefs in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, amounting to some 1,100 hectares of coral reefs. Significant seagrass beds are present in several areas, including the coastal barangays of Pola, Mansalay, Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro.
MSI scientists, with the concurrence of the DENR, warned coastal communities to prepare for the possibility the oil spill could reach their shores. This is especially true for communities on the eastern and southern sides of Oriental Mindoro, including Caluya Island (Northwestern Antique), and Cuyo Island off Northern Palawan.
Weather conditions have pushed the oil slick to the shores of three barangays in Caluya, Antique, affecting over 1,000 residents, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.
Aerial surveys by the DENR and UP MSI last March 3 estimated the slick to be around 25 kilometers long and between 300 meters to 500 meters wide. It is roughly oriented northeast to southwest, with its tail end situated in Pola Bay, about 73 kilometers south of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
The assessment was confirmed by satellite images released by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).
Another computer simulation shows that the slick will likely move southwards and affect Caluya, Antique and Cuyo, Palawan.
TOURIST SITES AFFECTED
The Department of Tourism said the oil spill has affected several marine protected areas in the municipality of Pola in Oriental Mindoro, such as the KingFisher Reserve, St. John the Baptist Marine Sanctuary, Song of the Sea Fish Sanctuary, Stella Mariz Fish Sanctuary, Bacawan Fish Sanctuary, St. Peter the Rock Fish Sanctuary, and the San Isidro Labrador Fish Sanctuary.
Beach resorts such as Bihiya Beach, 3 Cottage, Long Beach K. I, Aguada Beach Resort, Oloroso Beach Resort, Munting Buhangin Tagumpay Beach Resort, and Buhay na Tubig White Beach Resort in Oriental Mindoro have also been affected.
Coastal clean-up is now being done in the affected areas as an immediate solution to prevent further damage.
The oil spill has also reached the municipality of Caluya in the Province of Antique, particularly along the shorelines of Sitio Sabang, Barangay Tinogbo, Liwagao Island, Barangay Sibolo, and Sitio Tambak in Barangay Semirara.
None of the tourist attractions have so far been affected but the LGUs, together with the PCG, have been conducting clean-ups with support coming from the private sector.
Officials of Boracay in Aklan are preparing for the possibility of the oil spill reaching their area of jurisdiction.
The DOT said if unmitigated, the oil spill can have adverse impacts on three world-class dive destinations in the Philippines, specifically the Verde Island passage and Apo Reef in Mindoro, and Coron’s World War II Wrecks and Philippine Dugong.
