Mangroves in Semirara Island dying
Mangroves continue to die on Semirara Island in Antique, almost two years after a massive oil spill hit the island.
A survey conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Visayas office showed that 895 mangrove trees covering 45.84 hectares have died. The number of dead mangroves in Semirara is higher than those reported on Guimaras Island which was also battered by a massive oil spill last year.
The survey was conducted on January 14-20 this year but the results were released only last October 18.
The report said the affected areas include 24.27 hectares natural stands and 21.75 hectares of DENR plantation. At least 5 ha are considered severely damaged.
On Dec. 18, 2005, a National Power Corp. barge, battered by strong winds and waves, ran aground off Semirara Island as it was being towed by a tugboat to Oriental Mindoro from Masbate.
About 360,000 liters of bunker fuel was spilled from the nearly 900,000 liters stored in the barge's four fuel tanks, causing damage to mangroves and marine life in parts of the 5,045-hectare island.
Semirara is part of a group of nine islands of Caluya town in Antique, where the Semirara Mining Corp., the biggest coal mine in the country, is located.
On Sept. 14, 2006, the Philippine Coast Guard's Marine Environmental Protection Command had issued a final certificate of completion to attest that Napocor had completed the cleanup of about 113 hectares of oil-contaminated shoreline and mangroves.
The certificate had also noted that additional clean-up through bio-remediation efforts have been completed successfully and that mangroves "have recovered and grown healthy."
But water samples taken by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) from the affected area on Aug. 12, 2007, showed oil and grease ranging from 12-25 mg/li which exceeded the standard of 3 mg/li, according to the report.
The EMB team noted the "presence of oozing, sticky and black substances (suspected as oil) at the bark from stumps to branches of oil spill-affected mature mangrove trees."
It said the affected mangrove trees already showed signs of defoliation. Defoliation means mangroves are still undergoing stress or their lenticels (breathing pores) are covered or blocked by oil.
The DENR said it is continuously monitoring the impact of the oil spill in Semirara.