The Philippine government is looking at seeking Japan’s help to contain a rapidly spreading oil spill in Oriental Mindoro which has started to affect three villages in Caluya, Antique after the tanker M/T Princess Empress capsized off the coast of Naujan town on Feb. 28.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Saturday said the Philippine Coast Guard is working with relevant agencies to contain and recover the slick that could threaten the Verde Island Passage, which has been described as “the center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity.”
“Our Coast Guard is there and monitoring how it could further prevent the spill from spreading. Hopefully, it will not reach Verde Island, which is a protected area,” Bautista said.
Verde Island is located between Batangas province and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro.
“We’re looking at asking the Japanese government for help because I was told that they have the capacity to assist us,” he added.
The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) estimated that 20,000 hectares of coral reef, nearly 10,000 hectares of mangroves, and 6,000 hectares of seagrass are at risk in 21 municipalities across Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique.
Among these are Calapan, Puerto Galera, and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro; San Jose in Occidental Mindoro; and Coron in Palawan.
Bautista said an investigation is underway on the sunken tanker, which was carrying about 800,000 liters of fuel oil, and which reportedly capsized due to engine trouble.
