‘Iloilo oil spill cleanup improving’

MANILA, Philippines - The cleanup of an oil spill in the town of Estancia in Iloilo is reportedly improving, according to a private contractor handling the job.

The Kuan Yu Global Technologies Inc. said it has removed 117,000 liters of fuel from the tanks of power barge (PB) 103, which ran aground at the height of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The barge reportedly contained 1.4 million liters of bunker fuel.

The oil siphoned from PB 103 were transferred to the M/T Obama, according to Capt. Sonny Sarmiento of the Kuan Yu.

Earlier, the state-run Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), owner of the stranded barge, and Kuan Yu Global were blamed by residents for the alleged sluggish clean-up operation.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. had said they were planning to sue PSALM and Kuan Yu Global.

Sarmiento said they were working to expedite the operation.

Aside from the M/T Obama, Sarmiento said Kuan Yu Global has five other vessels – the M/T Don Jose 2, the LCT Valentina 1, the LCM Divine Glory, the M/T Doodsky, and the crane barge Gwenneth – that perform separate tasks.

Around 300 residents were hired to help in the cleanup.

“Rest assured no effort is spared to accelerate the cleanup. Cost is not even a factor as all expenses are covered by insurance,” Sarmiento said.