Coast Guard probes oil slick in Jordan shore
Sea vessels passing the Guimaras Strait would be investigated by a joint team from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) after an estimated four to five drums of oil were dumped along the waters of Jordan town.
PCG Deputy Commander Eduardo Fabricante said they have already gathered samples of oil from the different shipping companies passing through the Guimaras Strait. The specimen samples, which were already brought to Manila for testing, would be compared with the recovered oil slick in the shores of Jordan.
Pending the result of the laboratory test, Fabricante refused to identify the shipping companies where they got the oil samples.
Coastguard personnel and barangay folks recovered some 100 sacks of oil debris last February 26.
Fabricante said the oil slick was first seen by banca operators traversing Iloilo and Guimaras passing Jordan and Ortiz wharf. Pumpboat crews smelled foul odors coming from Sitio Tabuc Suba, Barangay Hoskyn, Jordan. The oil slick also contaminated the cove near the Jordan wharf.
This early, Fabricante ruled out that the oil might come from the ill-fated MT Solar 1 which is still lying under the sea. He said based on their initial findings the characteristics of the recovered oil is different from that of MT Solar 1.
Fabricate said, if confirmed, the shipping company will be held liable for violation of Republic Act 9275 or the Clean Water Act. The degree of the violation committed will be determined by the result of the laboratory test and their investigation.
On her part, DENR Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio assured they will closely coordinate with the PCG regarding the recent oil discharge in Jordan.