Oil contamination in some Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, NCR waters exceeds standards —DENR

The oil and grease contamination in some parts of the waters in Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, and Metro Manila areas exceeded the standard, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Friday.

In a press conference, DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna said their agency conducted a water sampling analysis on 62 stations including 23 in Central Luzon, 20 in National Capital Region, and 19 in Calabarzon.

Here are the areas that exceeded the two milligram per liter oil and grease standard:

• Barangay Saint Francis II in Limay, Bataan
• Barangay Taliptip in Bulakan, Bulacan
• Station A18 in Bulacan
• Station A20 in Bulacan 
• Station 21 in Bulacan
• Station B3 in Navotas City in NCR
• Station B4 in Navotas City in NCR
• Station B5 in Navotas City in NCR
• Station B6 in Navotas City in NCR
• Station B8 in Navotas City in NCR
• Station B9 in Navotas City in NCR
• Manila Ocean Park in NCR
• Coconut Place in NCR 
• Mall of Asia in NCR
• La Isla Bonita in Rosario, Cavite

According to Cuna, the station with the highest contamination of oil and grease was Station B6 in Navotas Terminal Station B6 with seven mg per liter.

“Ang two mg per liter, 'yan ang guideline value, 'yan ang standards natin kung tawagin for Class SB. Meaning, 'yung water body kung saan ginagamit itong guideline value is fit for swimming and other recreational activities so dapat hanggang two mg per liter,” Cuna said.

(Two mg per liter, that's the guideline value, that's our standards for Class SB. Meaning, the water body where this guideline value is used is fit for swimming and other recreational activities. So it should be up to two mg per liter.)

“Kapag lumagpas depending how much the exceedancy then may warning na on hindi dapat gumawa ng mga activities na 'yun, recreational activities or swimming,” he added.

(When it exceeds depending on how much the exceedancy, then there is a warning on not to do those activities like recreational activities or swimming.)

Under Class SB, waters are suitable for commercial propagation of shellfish and intended as spawning areas for milkfish and similar species; ecotourism and recreational activities; and bathing, swimming, skin diving, among others.

Cuna, however, said the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) still have to verify first if the oil and grease observed in the concerned areas came from MTKR Terranova.

On July 25, one crew member died and 16 others were rescued after MTKR Terranova capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in Limay town.

MTKR Terranova was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank.—AOL, GMA Integrated News