Sorsogon LGU conducts coastal cleanup due to oil spill

Government officials from the municipality of Matnog, Sorsogon conducted a coastal cleanup following an oil spill which has already affected two barangays, a report on Unang Balita on Monday said.

The oil spill turned the water to black and affected even the coastlines in Barangay Tablac and Barangay Camachili.

Authorities have already used chemicals to extract the oil from the waters.

Earlier, residents of the two barangays reported difficulty in breathing due to the foul smell coming from the waters.

“Tuwing umaga pumupunta ako dito sa tabing dagat. Ngayon may naamoy ako. 'Yun lumapit ako sa tabing dagat nakita ko maitim na 'yung dagat dahil naka-ano na pala 'yung langis,” Barangay Tablac Chairman Jerry Funtilar said.

Some of the kids reportedly had asthma attacks because of the incident.

“Opo dahil ang amoy ng langis na 'yan mabaho, masakit sa dibdib. 'Yung mga bata na mayroong asthma, 'yon talaga ang maaapektuhan,” Funtilar said.

As of now, the cause of the oil spill is still unknown, but the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is already conducting an investigation.

“Dapat may proper disposal talaga 'yan, 'yung oil na mga ginamit. Wala naman tayong ma-pinpoint kung kanino galing 'yang used oil nayan. Ongoing ang pag-conduct ng investigation sa mga vessel dito sa Matnog Port,” Enrico Andal of the PCG said.

According to Andal, the Matnog Port serves as passageway of international shipping vessels.

The port is also used by RORO vessels traveling from Samar to Visayas and Mindanao. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/KG, GMA News