No oil spill, fish kill in Puerto Galera — mayor

The oil spill from the sunken motor tanker in Oriental Mindoro has not yet reached Puerto Galera nor has affected the town’s fishes, according to a local government official on Thursday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan said they received an inspection report from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) this morning regarding the situation in the Verde Island passage.

“Sa awa ng Panginoon ay negative ang ocular inspection ng area…sa Verde Island. Vinalidate din nila ang mga sabi-sabi na may mga fish kill along the area, at talagang salamat sa Panginoon at according doon sa finorward nilang message sa amin, ay negative lahat ‘yun,” he said.

(Based on the ocular inspection of the area, Puerto Galera on Verde Island is negative of the oil spill. PCG also validated that there are no fish kills here.)

“Talagang walang wala. Wala kaming nakikita ng bahid ng oil spill dito sa amin sa bayan ng Puerto Galera…Makakaasa ang buong bansa na wala po,” he added.

(There’s really none. We don't see any traces of oil spill here in the town of Puerto Galera...The whole country can be assured of that.)

Ilagan, however, admitted there is still a slight possibility of the oil slick hitting Puerto Galera, but the local government has already been preparing for such. He said their conventional oil spill booms are ready and could be lent to other areas if needed.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said at least 61 tourist sites were affected by the oil spill from MT Princess Empress which sank on February 28 off Naujan while carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel.—AOL, GMA Integrated News