‘2 to 3 days more to clean up Olongapo beaches’

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — It would take two to three days more to rid the beaches of Olongapo City of the oil slick that has contaminated the pristine waters of Subic Bay, a barangay official said.

"We need at least two to three more days of intensive cleanup of the oil sludge before we can resume normal operations for the beaches," said Carlito Baloy, chairman of Barangay Barretto and head of the Beach Owners Association.

Baloy said the oil spill dealt a "big blow" to the local tourism industry.

"But we need to work together to quicken things," he said. "We thank everyone who has lent a helping hand. Their help means a lot to us right now."

While the cleanup of the oil spill continues, it has been "business as usual" at the Ocean Adventure theme park, said John Corcoran, president and chief operating officer of the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc., the corporate arm of Ocean Adventure.

Contrary to reports, "we have not been affected by the oil spill," he said.

Upon learning about the oil spill, which has affected about seven kilometers of Olongapo City’s coastline, Corcoran said he immediately ordered their workers to inspect the encompassing areas of Ocean Adventure.

"Ocean Adventure is considered a marine preservation area, and because we have to be very careful with the plant and animal life that co-exist here, I made a quick survey of the property and its nearby areas to check if the oil slick made its way through," he said.

Corcoran cited reports from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s seaport office and the Philippine Coast Guard that the oil slick was spotted off Grande Island and because of the current, it drifted to the seven-kilometer stretch of the city’s coastline where beach properties are located.

Corcoran, president of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, has called on his members to help in cleaning up the affected areas.

"We are sympathetic to the beach owners and affected residents and promise to support and help out in the clean-up to help them get back into business. We need to work together to help boost tourism in the area," he said.

Investigators were still unsure where the oil spill came from since no vessel was anchored in the vicinity, according to a report of SBMA’s seaport department.

The SBMA was still trying to track down the vessel, which dislodged the used bunker oil in the waters of Subic Bay.

Investigators have not discounted the possibility that a vessel passing through Subic Bay could have dumped the used oil.

Gen. Jose Calimlim, SBMA deputy administrator for operations, said the harbor patrol of the SBMA’s law enforcement department spotted the oil spill at about 9:25 a.m. last Thursday.

"Since our oil spill equipment was borrowed by the Philippine Coast Guard to be used in Guimaras, we sought the assistance of the Coastal Petroleum company in the freeport to help us in containing the spill," he said.

He said the oil spill "appeared to be sludge oil pumped out from the bilge of any passing vessel."

He said Coastal Petroleum personnel found out that the spill was petroleum-based and could be treated with chemical dispersants.