Oil spill probe begins
Iloilo -- The much-awaited probe on the oil spill in Semirara Island, Caluya, Antique began Wednesday as top officials of the Philippine Coast Guard's Special Marine Board of Inquiry convened.
First among the respondents to face the probe team was the tugboat captain responsible for the entry of the power barge of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) carrying a load of bunker fuel. The transfer came from Masbate off to Mindoro Occidental.
In a report, The News Today gathered that Captain Sabino Cajubos was made to present his credentials after given the chance to recount the mis-events as it occurred last month. Coast Guard insiders said doubts were raised on the authenticity of Cajubos' records however no official statement was released as of yet pending verification. Among those being checked were diploma and related licenses.
Cajubos was summoned alongside his Chief Engineeer, Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor of the power barge.
The oil spill caused about 27,267 sacks of recovered wastes by the nearly 300 clean-up crew of the Philippine Coast Guard.
The marathon hearing will conclude today (Friday) with recommendations and findings expected in the next two weeks.
Earlier, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) regional director Bienvenido Lipayon said that the clean around Semirara island is expected to last until April this year.
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard are the ones doing the dirty job of 'dispersing' the oil spill with the use of detergents
An estimated 200,000 liters of bunker fuel intended to be delivered for use by the National Power Corporation was spilled last December in Brgy. Semirara, Caluya town, north of Antique.
Lipayon said that the Napocor is the one spending for clean up, while the municipality of Caluya provided the manpower. Because of their expertise, the PCG is the one overseeing the operations.
A team from the EMB was dispatched to the island to assess the damage, but they have yet to submit their findings.
Reports have it that marine life in the affected areas were already found to have been damaged.
Local folks are worried that their source of livelihood will be affected if the clean up is prolonged. People in the island normally depend on fishing as their source of living.