Petron claims responsibility, apologizes for oil spill

MANILA, Philippines - Petron Corp. is taking responsibility for the massive oil spill in Rosario, Cavite last week.

In a statement, Petron president Lubin Nepomuceno yesterday said the company also apologized for the damage caused by the oil leak.

“At this stage, we take responsibility for this unfortunate incident. We sincerely apologize and assure all the communities affected that we will strive to resolve the situation at the soonest possible time,” he said.

Nepomuceno said they would continue efforts to conduct cleanup operations in affected areas to restore the livelihood of the communities.

“In the meantime, we will continue to give the assistance needed by residents affected by the spill,” he said.

The oil spill began last Thursday after the M/T Makisig tanker unloaded diesel in Petron’s depot.

Latest sea-borne and aerial surveys of Petron showed almost no indication of the oil sheen.

The oil firm said it also engaged a third party to regularly conduct test samples of the soil, water and marine life quality of affected areas.

“We are closely coordinating with government agencies such as PCG (Philippine Coast Guard), BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) and DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) to enhance our community assistance efforts,” it said.

Bad weather

Bad weather has prevented the PCG from removing M/T Makisig from Rosario, Cavite yesterday.

“Even if there is an ongoing investigation, we allowed the M/T Makisig to take shelter in Bataan because it could be more dangerous for them if they stayed out at sea during the typhoon,” Balilo said.

It would be up to the adjudication board formed by the PCG to conduct an investigation and determine who is responsible for the oil spill.

It was earlier reported that an estimated 500,000 liters of diesel oil spread to the towns of Tanza, Rosario, Ternate, and Naic in Cavite last Aug. 8.

Pipeline leak

Meanwhile, tests conducted by the PCG confirmed a leak in the two-kilometer Amazon pipeline of Petron Corp.

PCG spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said members of the PCG’s Special Operations Group (SOG) conducted a water pressure test in the pipeline by putting violet-colored water in it.

“When the colored water was some 500 meters away from the shoreline, it was seen coming out of the pipeline. This is an indication that there was a leak,” said Balilo.

“All indications point to the pipeline as the main source of the leak. However, this is still inconclusive unless we could get footage showing a hole in the pipeline,” he said.

Members of the PCG-SOG were supposed to take underwater video of the pipeline yesterday afternoon, but Balilo said the rough sea condition spawned by Typhoon Labuyo made it difficult for them to take footage.

Fast-track cleanup

Meanwhile, the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) called on Petron to fast-track the cleanup of the oil slick and shoulder the expenses to be incurred in removing it.

Pamalakaya also urged Malacañang through the DENR to order the closure of the oil depot in Barangay Poblacion.

It said criminal and other appropriate charges should be filed against the oil company and the owner of M/T Makisig and compel the petroleum corporation and its shipping firm to pay compensation to thousands of fishing families affected by the oil spill.

“The Cavite oil spill is time ticking bomb. If not contained in the next two to three days, it will create more damage and eventually send the coastal areas of the province to intensive care unit,” said Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France.

The group said around 10,000 fisherfolk in Rosario and Tanza were affected by the oil spill, which the group said could spread to other coastal towns of Cavite, including Noveleta and Naic, as well as Cavite City and even Bacoor City.

Guimaras oil spill

In a related development, environmental advocates under the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) marked the 7th anniversary of the Guimaras oil spill on Sunday.

Petron spilled 500,000 liters of bunker fuel

from its contracted oil tanker M/T Solar 1 in the southern coast of Guimaras in 2006, affecting marine sanctuaries and mangrove expanses in three municipalities.

The oil spill also reached the shores of Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

In 2010, it was also reported that Petron’s oil depot in Rosario, Cavite caused an oil spill after its submarine pipelines were damaged during Typhoon Basyang.

“A study published in the IAMURE International Journal on Marine Ecology estimated the damage to the affected ecosystems and the fisheries sector may last for up to two generations. Petron is claiming the situation in Cavite is under control, but coral reefs have reportedly been smothered by oil sludge, and reported fish and shellfish kills mean the oil slick has also affected the functions of marine species,” Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE, said.

Kalikasan PNE said Petron has remained unaccountable for the Guimaras oil spill, adding that concerned agencies may also let the oil giant off the hook in the Cavite oil spill. – With Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva, Michelle Zoleta