Oily debris hauling in Iloilo towns start
Sacks of oily debris collected from the shores of
Concepcion, Iloilo.
Hauling of collected oil debris in the oil spill-affected towns of Ajuy and Concepcion in Iloilo province started Thursday.
Carlos Tan, Petron Corporation health and safety manager, said the company hired a new barge smaller than the land craft transport (LCT) used in Guimaras to finally haul the solid debris collected in the coastal areas of the affected towns.
He said the barge, Millennium Uno, left Lapuz wharf in Lapaz district Wednesday. It can accommodate up to 120 metric tons (MTs) of load and is more than enough to carry an estimated 60-80 MTs of oil debris from the two towns.
Tan said the new barge should have started towing collected debris three days ago but constant rains in the region prevented it from sailing and starting the hauling operations.
The municipality of Ajuy in Iloilo has a total of 16 coastal areas affected by oil spill and these are Nasidman island, Calabazas island, Bay-ang, Punta Buri, Tagubanhan, Pedada, Luca, Culasi, Barrido, Malayu-an, Bucana Bunglas, Silagon, Bato Biasong, Pantalan Nabaye, Rojas and Taguhangin.
Concepcion has 12 affected coastal areas namely Nipa, Tagbak, Plandico, Bagongon island, Botlog island, Malangabang island, Balaguian island, Polopina, Tambliza, Macatunao, Dungon and Loong.
The collected debris will be shipped to the Holcim Cement plant in Misamis Oriental.
Tan said Petron temporarily halted the hauling operations in Barangay Cabalagnan, Nueva Valencia because of bad weather.
LCT Carmen of the Asian Shipping Company shipped out of Guimaras almost 800 MTs of collected oil debris two weeks ago. The barge has an actual load capacity of 2,200 MTs.
Tan said the company is still processing the transport permit of two more barges - RAS and Martam, each containing about 1,000 MTs of collected oil debris.
He said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will have to issue transport permits for both barges for these to sail from Guimaras to Holcim Cement plant in Mindanao.
(PNA)