AS OF MARCH 26

Over 9,000 liters of oily water mixture collected from oil spill-hit areas —PCG

Over 9,000 liters of oily water mixture have been collected during operations to address the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

In an update, the PCG said as of Sunday, March 26, it recorded 9,463 liters of oily water mixture and 115 sacks of oil-contaminated materials collected during its offshore response operations.

The PCG added that for shoreline response, it collected 137 sacks of oil-contaminated materials on Sunday.

In total, the PCG said it has collected 3,514.5 sacks and 22 drums of waste from 13 affected barangays in Naujan, Bulalacao, and Pola, Oriental Mindoro from March 1 to 26.

MT Princess, which was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, sank off Naujan due to strong waves on February 28, causing the oil spill.

The Bureau of Fishers and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) last week said the oil spill could cause lower fish output, but not to the extent of a nationwide shortage.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said at least 61 tourist sites have been affected, with the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) warning that this could reach northern Palawan and threaten over 36,000 hectares of marine habitat.

Japan, the United States and South Korea are helping Philippine authorities address the problem. —KBK, GMA Integrated News