Stockpiles of oil sludge dumped on the shoreline blamed for high level of toxins
Stockpiles of collected oil sludge and debris dumped along the affected barangays in Nueva Valencia and Sibunag, which are yet to be barged out by Petron Corp., are blamed for the high level of toxins which caused respiratory illnesses among the residents.
A physician who asked not to be named said for as long as the collected oil sludge remain on the shore it will pose danger to the health of the residents and to the environment. The government seems to be haphazard in dealing on how and when to dispose the collected oil sludge, the physician observed.
The same source said Petron and the government should act as soon as possible so that the level of toxin would go down. Residents are exposed to hydrogen sulfide and aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene.
Recently, the Department of Health (DOH) traced that some of the affected barangays especially in Sitio Naoway, Nueva Valencia yielded 6.8 parts per million (ppm) hydrogen sulfide. The level of hydrogen sulfide is way above the normal level set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau and the United States of America Environmental Agency.
The allowable level set forth by the environmental department is .07 ppm while the US environmental agency set it to .00071 ppm.
The source explained that there is an immediate need to remove the stockpile of oil sludge in the coastal areas to reduce the risk of undue exposure of residents to hydrogen sulfide. The same report of the health department prompted the local government units to evacuate the residents and observe the 100 meter radius. Work stoppage was also ordered but was resumed days later.
Petron already hired a barge to transfer the collected sludge but on when the craft will depart from Barangay Cabalagnan is still unknown. The collected sludge will reportedly be brought to the HOLCIM cement factory in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the affected residents are counting the days on when they can avail of the livelihood program other than the cash-for-work program of the giant oil company. Some of them do not even have the idea of what is in store for them after the worst oil spill hit the island.
It was learned that the livelihood program is incorporated in the island's master plan rehabilitation project which is still in the works.