Oil spill in Iloilo, Guimaras cleared — Navy Forces Central

The oil spill that contaminated coastal waters off Iloilo City and Guimaras province had been cleared and assistance was extended to affected residents, the Naval Forces Central (NFC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

In the statement, the NFC said Naval Reserve Center-Western Visayas (NRCen-WV) and Naval Task Group 1 commander Captain Stephen Tuballa in coordination with Coast Guard Station Iloilo provided a response team to conduct the oil spill recovery operation.

The NFC said naval reservists from NRCen-WV, naval-affiliated reserve squadron tugboat M/T Ana of the 502nd NARS (FF Cruz Inc.), patrol boat of the Philippine Navy (PB349) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) floating assets were augmented to conduct the skimming of oil spilled along Iloilo/Guimaras Straits and the shorelines of Leganes and Dumangas.

During the operation, navy vessel PB349 and coast guard floating assets conducted a survey and sweeping of the oil spill using a sorbent boom along Muelle Loney Wharf, Iloilo City and Buenavista, Guimaras to identify the contaminated coastal areas.

The NFC said the Philippine Navy, together with the local government units will now conduct coastal clean-up along the shoreline of Guimaras.

The NFC added the Navy, PCG and other LGUS will utilize all means for the decontamination and restoration of the sea waters in Iloilo and Guimaras for protection and preservation of marine aquatic resources.

They will also provide assistance for affected families residing along the shoreline.

In the same statement NFC will continue to conduct naval operations and extend assistance to the people in the Visayas.

On July 3, at least 63 households were displaced due to the fumes that drifted to their area after the explosion of AC Energy’s Power Barge 102.

An estimated 40,000 liters of bunker oil spilled in the waters off Zone 3, Barrio Obrero in Lapuz, Iloilo.

Meanwhile, AC Energy said initial investigation showed the oil spill was caused by a rupture in its barge’s fuel tank.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said the barge owner will be fined for the oil spill incident.

On Saturday, the PCG filed a criminal complaint against AC Energy and two of its officers before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office over the oil spill incident.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said the basis of the complaint was Section 107 of Republic Act 8550 (The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998) as amended by RA 10654 for aquatic pollution. -- BAP, GMA News