State of calamity recommended for Bataan due to oil spill

Bataan has been recommended to be placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of the oil spill from MT Terranova.

“There is a recommendation to declare another state of calamity based on the effects of the oil spill,” said Bataan Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office chief Arvin Catipon in a "24 Oras" report by Jun Veneracion on Wednesday.

The Department of Health is also observing the environment in the area.

“Mukhang nag-iimprove ang sitwasyon. Wala tayong nakukuhang reports ng mga illnesses related to this incident,” added DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

(The environment seems to be improving. We haven’t gotten reports of any illnesses related to this incident)

Meanwhile, more than 17,000 fishermen have reportedly been affected in Bataan.

Markets nearby have also begun selling fish at a lower price despite it being caught in farther parts of Manila Bay.

“Mga suki po, sila pa unang natatakot,” said a seller.

(Our regular customers are even the ones who are scared)

“Itong ganito, P340 po noong walang oil spill. Ngayon, may oil spill, P240 nalang,” added another seller.

(This one was P340 before the oil spill. Now that there is an oil spill, it’s already P240)

Despite this, the sensory analysis of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has declared the fish in the market as safe.

“Sa pagmamanman ng ating mga ground personnel, wala naman tayong nakitang mga isda na may traces ng oil spill,” said BFAR Spokesperson Naz Briguera.

(According to the observation of our ground personnel, we have not yet detected fish in the areas with oil spill traces)

Sellers have also requested assistance and aid, which the municipality are currently preparing.

Based on the most recent Sea Surface Survey of the Philippine Coast Guard, there were no more scents or traces of oil observed in the nearby areas.

Despite this, the siphoning of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil has yet to begin due to the difficulty of resealing and recapping the vessel’s valves.

The United States Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of America offered to help mitigate the oil spill and salvage the sunken vessel.

Diving operations are also ongoing at the ground zero of the leakage.

 “Kakausapin natin ang salvor para i-check ang kanilang personnel, baka pwede sila magdagdag ng mga divers,” said Bataan Oil Spill Response Incident Commander LCDR Michael John Encina.

(We will talk to the salvor to check their personnel, maybe we can add more divers.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF,GMA Integrated News