SEALED. The crew of Japanese dynamic positioning vessel, Shin Nichi Maru, prepares the bag that will cap oil leaks at the sunken M/T Princess Empress in Oriental Mindoro in this undated photo. The Philippine Coast Guard reported on Monday (April 17, 2023) the completion of underwater operations. (Courtesy of PCG)
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced on Monday the completion of underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations in Oriental Mindoro province as part of mitigation efforts in the oil spill caused by the sinking of the M/T Princess Empress nearly two months ago.
In a statement on Monday, the PCG said the ROVs identified 24 sources of leakage from the sunken vessel and temporarily capped all but one using specialized bags from the United Kingdom and a local source.
The Unified Incident Command Post in Calapan City sourced 16 specialized bags from a golf bag manufacturing company in Silang, Cavite.
“One remaining pressure valve producing a slow intermittent release of oil at the 2nd Pressure Valve portside was not capped due to obstructions that may compromise the ROV operations,” the PCG reported.
The PCG expressed gratitude to dynamic positioning vessels Shin Nichi Maru of Japan and the United States’ Pacific Valkyrie, Japan Coast Guard, US Navy Supervisor of Salvage, local government units, and other stakeholders for their support during the ROV operations.
The PCG said it will continue to partner with agencies in offshore and shoreline cleanup and assessment to reduce the environmental impact until the source of the spill is permanently addressed.
The oil tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank off Naujan town on Feb. 28.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. went to Pola town on Saturday for an aerial inspection and distribution of aid to affected residents.
Oriental Mindoro municipalities that also received government aid include Baco, Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Calapan City, Gloria, Naujan, Mansalay, Pinamalayan, Roxas, San Teodoro, Socorro and Victoria.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is carrying out a cash-for-work program in the cleanup operations in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
As of posting, more than 25,000 families in 14 towns are engaged in the program, with a budget allocation of PHP190.1 million.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources previously said the cost of the damage is nearing PHP1 billion.
In a statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda said more than PHP20 billion pesos are for disposal under the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management (NDRRM) law to fund long-term livelihood programs in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and parts of Western Visayas, which are most affected by the oil spill.
She said local government units also have disaster funds while other government agencies have the Quick Response Fund.
"Focus should also be on technological know-how and capacity building of the Coast Guard and other agencies within the NDRRM that are vital in addressing oil spill disasters. Even local governments near coastal areas must have easy access," she said. (PNA)
