DENR monitors oil spill from sunken tanker

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is monitoring a possible oil spill after an oil tanker sank off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday.

The DENR directed its regional personnel to inspect the site.

“Access to the area was limited due to the bad weather. Observation of the impact has been limited to aerial survey,” the DENR said.

The department is coordinating with the Naujan municipal government and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to address the threat of oil spill in the area.

The oil tanker, MT Princess Empress, encountered engine problem and drifted toward the waters off Naujan due to rough seas.

The Maritime Industry Authority said it would investigate the cause of the sinking of the oil tanker.

The PCG also created a crisis management committee to probe the mishap.

Meanwhile, the PCG rescued nearly 150 passengers and crewmembers of a passenger vessel and a motorized boat in the waters off Bohol and Basilan on Tuesday.

The PCG said it deployed its BRP Malamawi before 10 p.m. on Tuesday after receiving a report that MV Starlite Saturn ran aground in the waters off Danajon Bank in Taliban town.

The PCG said the vessel, which was bound for Cebu City, was loaded with 12 rolling cargoes and had 86 passengers, 55 crewmembers and two PCG sea marshals when it encountered an engine problem.

In Basilan, six passengers of a motorized boat were rescued off the coast of Pandak Island in Hadji Muhtamad.

The PCG said the boat, which departed from Jolo, sank after its hull was damaged due to big waves. – Evelyn Macairan, Roel Pareño