Oil spill havoc widens, alarm up on Negros, Iloilo coastal towns
Map showing mangrove and coral reef areas in the
island province of Guimaras threatened by the oil
spill. At right, satellite image of Panay, Guimaras
and Negros islands.
graphics courtesy of Green Forum WV
Lives of over 20,000 islanders in the Province of Guimaras faced drastic change over the weekend courtesy of a tanker that submerged south of said island-province. Directly hit are some 3,000 fisherfolks and their families with the tanker's 2 million liter-bunker fuel spilt in at least 20 nautical miles (some 360 kilometers) of Guimaras waters. The devastation is feared to be even greater in the environment and economy of Guimaras, a popular destination placed in the country's tourism map because of its pristine beaches and abundant seafood.
As of press time Tuesday, the oil slick has widened and feared to have damaged some 239 kilometers of coastline in the Municipality of Nueva Valencia and over 30 kilometers of coastline in the Municipality of Sibunag.
Alarm has been sent out to the provinces of Negros Occidental and Iloilo alongside Bacolod and Iloilo cities. Governor Rahman Nava in a radio interview said the oil spill went both ways thus placing neighboring provinces in danger of getting their share of the dreaded spill.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here has gathered its resources sending an initial two tugboats to do the job. Yesterday saw yet another Coast Guard response as a team of Marine Environmental Protection experts came in and went to the accident site on board the PCG ship, AU 3502 and one "salvage" tugboat. Commander Harold Harder in his media statements called for the community's support saying the clean-up is way too massive for the PCG to handle.
Still missing crew
Such, as search and rescue operations ceased and shifted to a search and recovery effort on the two remaining crew reported missing and now feared dead. Sixteen other crewmen on board the M/T Solar 1 were rescued off the stormy seas of Guimaras and made it to shore safely. Now on the fourth day of the accident, hopes begin to dim for oiler Victor Morados of Dumaguete and apprentice Art Ian Nabua of Bataan.
Bigger challenge
Incessant rains and strong winds continue to pose a bigger challenge to the rescuers and now the clean-up teams where as a standing directive, "clean-up and contain the spread of the slick" remain as the focus of the ongoing operations.
The News Today (TNT) learned from sources of a two-pronged approach used by the "specialized-unit" Coast Guard spill combat team in an operation where the "oil spill boom" has been likened to a dragnet. An aerial team issues direction while another team is stationed on the shore where oil will probably reach. Efforts to skim the oil before it reaches shore is made albeit in ‘crude' ways.
Commander Harder said the massive clean-up needs massive manpower. With the unfavorable weather conditions, faster travel of oil spill has been observed where in a day's time, the oil slick has widened significantly hitting mangroves, coral reefs and vast seaweed plantation of the island.
Among those feared to suffer the most is Guimaras' National Marine Research where millions in aid and grants have since poured in for said research facility's propagation of aquatic resources.
"It's not easy to measure the extent of damage," Governor Nava told Bombo Radyo. "We don't know how we can recover from this."
The island-province is now under a State of Calamity.
Responsibility
Petron Corporation, which owns the bunker fuel, gave its assurance that it will assist in the clean up.
Felimon Antiporda, Vice Operations for Operations and Supply, told The News Today that they will be bringing in equipment to clean the oil spill.
He said though that the clean up will require tremendous amount of assistance.
"We will need specialized equipment," he said.
Antiporda, however, said that the oil spill is the primary responsibility of the vessel's owner, Sunshine Maritime Development Corporation, under their contract. Petron chartered Solar I to transport the bunker fuel.
Nonetheless, he ruled out speculations that the ship was not sea-worthy.
"It has passed international standards," he said.
According to Harder, Solar I took in water at its chain room. It sought shelter at the Iloilo Strait. By lunchtime, its crew was able to pump out the water out of the chain room. Shortly before its resumed its voyage, a crew member told ship captain Norberto Aguro that the ship was listing to starboard. Aguro gave the order to abandon ship at about 4 pm Friday.
Harder said that Aguro did not follow procedure as the latter failed to give a distress call.
Harder said that they only came to know of the sinking on Saturday, when the Nueva Valencia informed them of the rescue of the crew.
Community help underway
Meantime, help is underway as concerned citizens responded on the Coast Guard and Governor Nava's plea. From rags to sacks and other materials that may be used to contain the spill once it nears shoreline, offers poured in. Bombo Radyo launched "Oplan Bulig sa Guimaras" and within minutes, a barangay captain in one city barangay said 700 Abaca-cloth sacks are ready for pick-up.
An initial evacuation of fourteen families will also be made anytime with the affected area in Nueva Valencia most hit by the spill and the fumes proving to be hazardous. Famous Nagarao Island-Resort was also directly hit as emergency harvest was pushed in one seaweed plantation in Sibunag.
(With reports from Ronilo L. Pamonag)