Cordova’s coastal waters improving

CEBU, Philippines - Almost a month after oil spill from the sunken MV Saint Thomas Aquinas hit the seas and shores of Cordova, the water quality on the portions of coastal waters in Lapu-Lapu city and the town of Cordova has significantly improved.

Engr. Annabeth Noble, environmental specialist I of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that the result of the survey they did last August 29 showed that the water quality has improved, compared to the physical and chemical analysis that they have conducted immediately after the collision.

“But still, we cannot say nga nibalik na gyud sa normal kay ang standard is 2 milligrams per liter (mg/l),” said Noble during the Kapihan sa PIA forum yesterday.

Engr. Cindylyn Pepito said that the milligram of oil and grease per liter was then measured at 10,000 mg/l. But based on the latest report, this has reduced to 5 to 11mg/l, depending on the area where the samples were taken.

Based on the laboratory tests for oil and grease characteristics conducted by EMB-7, water samples were collected from four barangays in Cordova which recorded 7 mg/l in Bang-bang and Buagsong, and 6 and 11 mg/l in Day-as and Sitio Bantayan, Poblacion, respectively.

Apart from Cordova, water samples from three barangays in Talisay city were also taken which showed 8 mg/l in Poblacion near Larawan beach, 11 mg/l in Dumlog and 8 mg/l in Tangke.

Rechale Ybañez, DENR-7 environmental education and information coordinator, said that the orchestrated clean-up operations participated by local government units, private organizations and other volunteers have helped a lot.

“As of now, those who are still cleaning up in the affected areas are in urgent need of masks with filter to contain the stingy smell sa oil kay ang uban nga mga volunteers, nag ubo ubo na tungod sa baho sa oil,” Ybañez added. — (FREEMAN)