Oil leak from MT Terranova now controlled -PCG 

The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) salvage team was able to seal some of the valves from the sunken MT Terranova off Limay, Bataan, controlling the leakage of 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil. 

In Jun Veneracion’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, authorities will proceed with the siphoning operations on Wednesday if there will be no more problems with the sunken vessel. 

“It is naturally more sensitive kasi may io-open at palalabasin doon yung oil para i-siphon. May isasaksak, so gagalawin mo yung integrity nung barko,” said PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan: 

(It is naturally more sensitive because something will be opened and the oil will be released from there for the siphoning. Something will be plugged in, so that could affect the integrity of the vessel.) 

The PCG added that the oil leak is now less than 1 liter per hour, hence only minimal oil sheen has been observed in ground zero or where the vessel has sunk. ]

Observation from aerial surveillance also suggests minimal oil sheens off the coasts of Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, and Pampanga, the report also said. 

However, the ocean water in some barangays in Limay is no longer safe for swimming and fishing as it failed the water quality test by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

Results of the water quality test showed that 5.1 to 30 milligrams per liter of oil and grease were found in the ocean waters in the following barangays: Wawa, Francis, Luz Kitang, and Lamao. 

The water is safe for drinking if it only has 2.0 mg/l of oil or grease and there should only be 3.0 mg/l of oil for it to be safe for fishing, the report also said. 

“Limay has already done yung fishing ban, kasi ayun naman talaga yung first step na kinakailangan natin gawin,” said Bataan Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia III. 

(Limay has already done the fishing ban, because that’s the first step that we should do.) 

But the fishing ban is nothing for fishermen in Bataan who want to bring something for their families. 

“Nagtiyatiyagaan na lang kami pakilo-kilo. Minsan dalawang kilo, pwede na pambili ng bigas,” a fisherman said. 

(We just settle with a few kilos we can catch for now. Sometimes we catch at least two kilos and that would be enough for us to buy rice.) 

“Hindi mabili yung isda kasi nga sa langis daw…Matumal,” another fisherman lamented. 

(There’s a low demand for fish right now due to the oil spill…The sales are sluggish.) 

The provincial government of Bataan is already preparing to distribute cash aid and food packs to all affected families by the oil spill, the report also said.—Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News