Oil slick approaching coastal waters of Iloilo City, Oton town
Iloilo City Area Coordinating Center (ACC) chief, Jose Papa, confirmed Thursday the presence of oil sheen along the coastal area of Sto. Niño Sur in Arevalo district.
Papa said this could be an indicator that the oil slick brought about by the sinking ofMT Solar I in Guimaras Island is now approaching the coastal areas of Iloilo City.
He expressed hope,however, that the tragedy would still spare this city.
Immediately, Papa deployed 20 absorbent booms that were provided by Petron Corporation to block any oil slick from reaching the shorelines of the city's coastal barangays.
The ACC also mobilized 10 pumpboats to help in the deployment of oil spill booms. Papa said Petron has assured the city that it would send additional booms if needed.
On the other hand, Malvin Nat, disaster coordinator of Oton, the adjacent municipality of Iloilo City, confirmed the presence in their shorelines of debris, presumably bunker fuel, sticking to floaters and nets. He added there is already the presence of oil sheen.
The municipality of Oton is now asking for the support of Petron and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Its Bantay Dagat team has been scouring the territorial waters to check on the extent of the oil sheen.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, who has been made aware of the sighting of oil sheen, called the attention of the PCG, Iloilo City Police Office and all coastal barangay officials of the city.
The mayor immediately informed the National Disaster Coordinating Center NDCC) in Manila, Task Force Guimaras Regional Incident Coordinator Lito Coscolluela and Ilonggo Cabinet members.
"We hope that it will not happen here but this is so sad. This one is really a big disaster," Treñas said. "That's very near our boundary, we share a common boundary with Oton."
(PNA)