Iloilo authorities urged to ban shellfish harvest at oil spill area

Authorities in Iloilo province were urged to declare a ban on the gathering of shellfish in the area where an oil spill occurred after Typhoon Yolanda damaged a power barge last November.

Dr. Rex Sadaba, program manager of the University of the Philippines Visayas oil spill response team, sought a ban on shellfish gathering off the coast of Botongon village in particular.

Iloilo-based The Daily Guardian on Wednesday quoted him as saying the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis of the marine life has yet to declare the area safe, even if the Department of Health Western Visayas had cleared the ambient air of Botongon.

Oil spilled from a power barge of the National Power Corp. contaminated the coastline of Estancia town in Iloilo when Yolanda hit. Many residents in the area were initially evacuated from their homes.  — BM, GMA News