26 Puerto Galera areas positive for oil, grease contaminants –DOH

High levels of oil and grease contaminants were found in 26 areas in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Department of Health (DOH) Officer-In-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Tuesday.

In a joint statement, the DOH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that only nine of the 35 sampling stations tested in Puerto Galera met the criteria for DENR’s Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards of 2016.

These nine areas were the Small Lalaguna and Big Lalaguna Shoreline, Balete, Central Sabang Shoreline, Coco Beach, Batangas Channel, Paniquian, Balatero, and West San Isidro Bay.

The results of the water quality testing were released on April 14.

The DOH thus advised the public to exercise caution and refrain from consuming water from affected areas and when conducting water-related occupational and recreational activities.

The department also suggested avoiding consumption of contaminated fish, shellfish, and other seafood products from the affected areas.

“Inaabisuhan po ng Department of Health [is advising], based on safety and health measures, to refrain from occupational and recreational activities dito po sa mga katubigan na nakitaan natin na bagsak doon sa mga test [in waters that failed the tests]… This might cause harmful effects on your body,” Vergeire said at a press conference.

“Hindi na tayo magaantay pa ng patuloy pa na test. Nakakita na po tayo ng accurate results,” she added.

(We will no longer wait for further tests. We have already seen accurate results.)

In a later update, the DOH clarified that the oil and grease contaminants detected in Puerto Galera were “not conclusively related to the oil spill” from the submerged motor tanker in Oriental Mindoro.

Vergeire said that there were no new reports of individuals getting sick due to the oil slick in the province.

“‘Yung mga number ng mga kaso ng pagkakasakit, ngayon ay zero. Wala na pong nagpapatingin. I think the preventive measures have worked for us. Nagkaron lang talaga noon ng dagsa dahil pauna tapos syempre hindi pa alam kung ano ang gagawin,” she added.

(There are zero cases now of people getting sick. No more people are seeking medical consultations… There was only a rise of cases before because it was the onset and people didn’t know what to do.)

In March, Vergeire reported that more than a hundred people got sick due to the effects brought by the oil spill. Most of them had headaches and respiratory-related symptoms like coughs and colds.

Vergeire said the Oriental Mindoro local government could manage the health situation in the province using the preventive measures set in place per the guidance of the DOH.

The motor tanker Princess Empress sank on February 28 off Naujan while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel.

In March, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) projected that the oil spill from the tanker may reach Puerto Galera as the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan slowed down and was going towards the north along the Verde Island passage.

Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan, however, criticized the UP-MSI for the projection, saying it resulted in tourist booking cancellations. — DVM, GMA Integrated News