OCD: Oil spill affects over 350K people in Cavite; nearly P18M income lost daily

A total of 352,179 people in coastal barangays in Cavite have been affected by the oil spill that has reached their shores, with lost income amounting to nearly P18 million each day, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Friday.

In a statement, the OCD Calabarzon said that, "At present, based on the update of Cavite [Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council], the Provincial Government issued 'No Catch' and 'No Sell Zone' for all shellfish in the coastal areas of the province."

"Furthermore, an estimated 352,179 in the coastal barangays were reported as affected population, 25,145 fisherfolks were also affected with an estimated loss of income amounting 17,952,775.65 per day predictably in 22 days, a total of 394,961,064.30," it added.

Resorts and similar businesses in Calabarzon are also reeling from the impact of the oil spill, with 36 tourism establishments affected, according to Department of Tourism Regional Director Marites Castro.

According to OCD Calabarzon, a state of calamity was declared in nine coastal local government units in Cavite due to the oil spill incident from sunken motor tanker Terranova in Bataan.

On July 25, a crew member died and 16 others were rescued after the MTKR Terranova capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in Limay town.

MTKR Terranova was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank.

Avoiding a disastrous spill

The siphoning operation for MTKR Terranova has been postponed to not later than two weeks, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday.

The PCG said the initial capping bags on the valves of the motor tanker would be replaced with metal caps to avoid a "disastrous oil spill" during the conduct of the siphoning operation.

"With the above developments, the siphoning will be moved to not later than two weeks from now," PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said.

"This due diligence measure will however afford us with better control to reduce to barest minimum the possibility of disastrous oil spill during the conduct of siphoning activity," he added.

Gavan said the fabrication of metal cappings will take seven days and their installation will take another seven days.

"This week, the earlier attached seals made of special canvass capping bags will be replaced with a new set to avoid undue risks from wear and tear from its exposure to oil," the PCG said.

Of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, 300,000 liters need to be siphoned to float MTKR Terranova. This would take up to seven days, the PCG said. The motor tanker will then be moved to a shallow area.

Aside from MTKR Terranova, two ships—MTKR Jason Bradley with 5,500 liters of diesel and MV Mirola 1 with used oil and diesel—were found to be leaking hazardous materials in Bataan waters. — VDV, GMA Integrated News