Oil spill has reached Verde Island, Batangas, PCG says

The oil spill from a submerged motor tanker in Oriental Mindoro has now creeped into the waters of Verde Island in Batangas, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday.

PCG-Batangas station commander Captain Victorino Acosta confirmed this in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, when asked if the oil spill from MT Princess Empress which sank on February 28 is already visible on Verde Island.

“Opo. Sa ngayon, confirmed [Yes. Right now, it’s confirmed],” he said.

“Doon sa bandang 4.4 nautical miles, nagko-combat na kaagad tayo. Oil sheens pa lang doon pero may mga nagla-landfall na dito. Kapag nakita mo, nagiging kulay itim na,” he added.

(We are already combating it at around 4.4 nautical miles. There are oil sheens, but some are making a landfall which are black in color.)

Acosta said the PCG is still assessing the length of the oil spill on Verde Isand’s shoreline.

They are also monitoring the situation in other coastal areas of Batangas, such as San Juan, Tingloy, Lobo, and Calatagan.

Acosta, however, assured that the province has already been preparing for such and has put in place improvised oil spill booms and other equipment.

There is also no announcement yet of a fishing ban in Batangas and ro-ro travel is not affected, according to him.

University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) associate professor Dr. Irene Rodriguez said on Sunday that the oil spill may reach Batangas and Puerto Galera as the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan has slowed down and is going towards the north along the Verde Island passage.

MT Princess Empress sank on February 28 off Naujan while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel. —KG, GMA Integrated News