Batangas City gov't stops recreation activities in Isla Verde due to oil spill

The local government of Batangas City on Tuesday ordered a halt in recreation activities in Isla Verde as the local government feared oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress in Oriental Mindoro had already affected the quality of nearby waters. 

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Oliver Gonzales said a test has been conducted to determine the extent of the contamination.

“Nagkaroon na rin ng pagpigil doon sa pagkakaroon muna [ng] recreation doon sa mga katubigan within the Isla Verde island kasi nga hindi pa tayo sure yung quality ng tubig ano ang estado ngayon,” he said.

(There is already a prohibition of recreational activities in the waters within Isla Verde because we are not sure yet about the quality of water there.)

Gonzales said the oil slick has reached at least three barangays in the city.

On Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard also confirmed that the oil spill already reached Verde Island.

Verde Island is located along the bodies of the Verde Island Passage which is the world's center of marine biodiversity. It is situated between Batangas and Mindoro which is is an important breeding ground for various marine organisms. 

Meanwhile, Pola, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Jennifer Cruz said more residents fell ill as the oil spill debris, which was collected in clean-up operations, was stuck at the pick-up points.

“May mga tao din na medyo mabagal doon sa kanilang trabaho dahil until now hindi pa nakokolekta yung mga debris yung mga oil, nandoon sa pick-up points kaya mas nagkakasakit yung ating mga mamamayan,” he said.

(There are some personnel who are slow with their task because, until now the oil spill debris has yet to be collected at pick-up points that is why more residents are falling ill.)

The mayor said that the number of residents who fell ill due to the oil spill is now around 200.

Meanwhile, the Pola mayor added that the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from Japan had already started its operations in assessing the situation of the sunken motor tanker on Monday.

Results will be available after three days, she added.

“Doon siguro magsisimula kung papaano —papalutangin ba, isa-salvage ba, kung tatakpan ba ang leak kung meron man,” Cruz said.

(The results may determine what we are going to do—if the motor tanker will be lifted, salvaged, or we will cover the possible leak.)

Motor tanker Princess Empress was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank due to strong waves on February 28. All 20 people on board were rescued.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the motor tanker sank 400 meters into the ocean, which was too deep for divers to reach. 

Cancellations

In a separate interview, Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan lamented that many tourists were canceling their reservations and bookings even though the town was negative for oil spill so far.

“Sana naman itong mga eksperto maging very responsible sila sa whatever pronouncement  nila. Sabi nila noong una noong 12 to 16 posibleng kaming tinamaan. Napakarami naming cancellation noon,” he said.

(I hope that these experts would be very responsible with their pronouncements. They said that the oil spill will reach our town around March 12 to 16. A lot of tourists cancelled their bookings.)

“Ngayon, ito na naman ang sinasabi ng ibang kasama natin sa media at eksperto posible na naman kaming tamaan. Ang cancellation namin ang dami,” he added.

(Now, some media outlets and experts are saying again that the oil spill will reach our town. We have so many cancellations.)

According to him, the livelihood of the residents was affected by the projection on the possible direction of the oil spill. —VAL, GMA Integrated News