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Oil spill contained off mainland Antique —gov


The oil spill from a sunken motor tanker in Oriental Mindoro has been contained in Caluya, Antique and may not reach the province’s mainland, a local government official said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said that drums of oil were collected along the coastlines of the Caluya group of islands where patches of oil slick were spotted during an aerial inspection.

“Ni-report ni Mayor Rigil Lim na na-contain na nila ‘yung pagpunta ng oil slick papunta sa mainland Antique. Ibig sabihin, the island of Caluya, sila ang nagsalo ng oil spill,” she said.

(Mayor Rigil Lim reported that they have contained the oil slick supposedly going to mainland Antique. That means, only the island of Caluya was affected by the oil spill.)

“Hindi naman siya massive, pero meron pa ring natira doon at sa ibang mga isla. ‘Yun lang nga, talagang napigilan doon ang oil,” she added.

(The oil spill is not massive, but there are still some left there and on other islands. The oil spill has already stopped spreading from there.)

Cadiao said the local government is now assessing the damage of the oil spill on fishes, seaweeds, and mangroves.

Caluya was placed under a state of calamity after the oil leak reached its waters. Fishing activities in some islands of the municipality were suspended.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Monday joined the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in distributing emergency cash assistance to the affected residents of Caluya through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the Relief for Individuals in Crisis and Emergencies.

The MT Princess Empress sank on February 28 off Naujan while carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel. Aside from Oriental Mindoro and Antique, the oil spill has also reached Palawan.

The motor tanker's owner, RDC Reield Marine Services, apologized for the oil spill that affected livelihoods and the environment in the area. —KG, GMA Integrated News

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