‘Remove barge that spilled coal or face charges’

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial government gave the owner of the barge that spilled coal off a coastal village in Agno town 10 days to remove the vessel or face legal action.

In a meeting called yesterday upon the instructions of Gov. Victor Agbayani, lawyer Virgilio Solis, provincial administrator, told Eudes Bautista, one of the crewmen of the barge Eisner, to relay the order to its owner, Asian Shipping Line based in Malabon.

The 90-meter long barge ran aground off Sitio Talisay in Barangay Macaboboni, Agno town last Dec. 18, spilling coal in the process.

The barge was en route from Semirara, Antique to deliver 4,500 metric tons of coal to the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) coal terminal at Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union, when strong waves spawned by a storm battered it.

The barge is still aground some 110 meters offshore, continuing to spill coal.

Solis said the provincial legal office is ready to help the municipal government of Agno, the principal complainant, in suing the barge owner.

Residents of Sitio Talisay, whose health is endangered by the coal spill, can file a class suit against the company, he added.

"If in 10 days you have not yet removed the barge, then we will be the one to remove it and auction your barge," Solis said.

He said they consider the barge "an abandoned derelict object destroying the seas of Agno."

Solis said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will determine the extent of damage caused by the coal spill.

Based on the findings of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) presented during the meeting, community environment and natural resources officer Celso Salazar said the coal spilled along the shoreline of Sitio Talisay has "accumulated within the cove."

"The coal has varying irregular sizes (from) one centimeter, one inch to four inches in diameter. It is scattered (along) an estimated length of 80 meters with varying width of five to 20 meters along the cove shoreline. It was noted that the sandy shorelines outside the cove were not affected. The spilled coal is estimated at about 300 cubic meters," Salazar said.

According to the EMB report, the barge’s crew has initially transferred about 10 tons of coal to another barge.

The transfer and unloading, however, is dependent on weather conditions, the report said.

Salazar said water quality tests showed negative traces of oil and grease and total suspended solids.

He said the coal spill has apparently disturbed the marine habitat.

Salazar added that the coal spill has affected the aesthetic view of the coastal area, violating DENR Administrative Order No. 34.

Environmentalist and radio announcer Lydia Colobong, who hails from Agno, said some residents have contracted skin diseases as a result of the coal spill.

Bautista said they have tried to remove the barge using a tugboat but failed due to strong waves.

Agno Vice Mayor Wilson Rosete said they want the barge removed immediately.

Municipal consultant Guillermo Neypes said they have talked to the barge owner who, in turn, promised to pay damages. The provincial board is set to investigate the coal spill on March 15.