Puerto Galera water quality declined after MT Princess Empress oil spill –governor

The water quality in Puerto Galera declined based on four consecutive tests following the oil spill from the Princess Empress motor tanker, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor said over the weekend.

According to Dolor, the latest tests indicated that the water quality from Puerto Galera to Bulalacao declined, with the deterioration seen even before the extended weekend during the Holy Week and the Araw ng Kagitingan holidays.

“Even prior to Holy Week, may findings na bagsak ito (it failed) on the level of oil increase. Ininform ko ang municipal mayor of Puerto Galera,” he said in a report by Vonne Aquino on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“Kaya nga noon ine-encourage ko ang mga tao to take action,” he said, adding that he was awaiting recommendations from the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Health (DOH) if fishing in the area should be banned.

However, Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan insisted that the area had not been affected by the oil spill based on the list of criteria given by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

He also added that a “hasty” and “premature” reaction of the local government could cause public fear as it had not considered advice from the task force.

Meanwhile, DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said test results were not conclusive, and the Health Department had yet to recommend any ban on water activities in the area.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco meanwhile said Puerto Galera had yet to be impacted by the oil spill.

The DENR and the OCD have yet to release statements on the matter.

The motor tanker Princess Empress — which carried 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil — sank in Balingawan Point due to strong waves on February 28.

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

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

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said at least 61 tourist sites had been affected by the spill, 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. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA Integrated News