Environment scientist: Oriental Mindoro oil spill effects may last years

An environment scientist said the effects of the oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress off Oriental Mindoro may last for several years and may eventually affect the food supply, according to Dano Tingcungco’s “24 Oras Weekend” report on Saturday.

Mindanao State University-Iligan City environmental science professor Dr. Hernando Bacosa said the strong current of the sea contributed to the spread of the oil spill despite the placement of oil spill booms.

He added that while the experts were still verifying the exact effect of the oil spill in the Verde Island passage, it was nevertheless clear that its effects would last for years and would eventually affect food supplies.

“Based on my experience in the state of Texas in the USA, it usually takes years and perhaps decades to really go back to the original state of the environment,” Bacosa said.

“We know very rich ang area sa biodiversity so pagna-disrupt mo yung pagkain ng ganitong isda or marine organism, chain reaction yan sa food web natin na maapektuhan yung ability ng fish to lay eggs, nababaog ang isda,” he added.

(We know that the area has a very rich biodiversity, so when you disrupt the food of this type of fish or marine organism, there is a chain reaction in the food web that affects the ability of the fish to lay eggs, the fish become sterile.)

Meanwhile, a fishing ban was being implemented in Barangay Navotas, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro due to the oil spill.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), together with Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr., conducted an aerial inspection in the province to monitor the effects of the oil spill.

“Ito pala, medyo ano yung current, magulo, hindi ma-predict. At saka sabi ng mga expert is something extraordinary yung wave characteristics ng Mindoro,” Galvez said.

(It turns out, the current is a bit chaotic and unpredictable. And then the experts say the wave characteristics of Mindoro are something extraordinary.)

The PCG said the marine diesel oil from the MT Princess Empress was depleted, while the loaded industrial fuel oil was leaking.

The MT Princess Empress sank on February 28 off Najuan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel, affecting almost a hundred thousand residents in the province. All 20 people onboard were rescued. — Richa Noriega/DVM, GMA Integrated News