Published March 9, 2023, 9:25 AM
The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) has committed assistance to the Philippine government in containing and cleaning the oil spill off the waters of Mindoro Island.
In a statement, the Philippine Coast Guard said personnel from the JCG are expected to be deployed in the country to assist in the ongoing oil spill response operations, particularly in Naujan town of Oriental Mindoro.
“According to Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Japan will send a disaster relief expert team on oil removal and control to augment the country’s manpower and assets,” the statement read.
Aside from Japan, the United States Coast Guard has already informed the Philippine government that it will assist in the same operation.
The oil spill occurred after the MT Princess Empress sank off the waters of Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28. It carries more than 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.
The oil spill has already affected the coastal areas of at least eight towns of Oriental Mindoro while oil slicks were monitored in nearby areas. The oil spill also threatens to reach tourist spots in the nearby areas.
Discussions are still ongoing to contain the spread of the oil spill, including the mapping out of strategies on what to do with the oil tanker.
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In a statement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the location of the vessel was already located through the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) BRP Hydrographer Ventura.
Based on the DENR data, the vessel was located about northeast of Pola, Oriental Mindoro but it is “believed to have moved southeast from its last known position where it completely submerged.”
The site is about 1,200 feet or approximately 400 meters below sea level.
Cash-for-work
On Wednesday, March 8, the PCG started meeting with the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro to deploy as many people to help in the oil spill clean-up drive.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the government will hire one person per family in all affected coastal areas under the “cash-for-work” program.
“There will also be a massive and simultaneous shoreline clean-up on Friday, March 10,” the PCG statement read.
For other missions, BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) applied 1,200 liters of oil dispersant in the vicinity waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, shoreline clean-up teams, LGU representatives, and volunteers collected several sacks of oiled debris in Pola, Oriental Mindoro.
