Oil spill: 5,185 hectares of marine habitat affected

MANILA, Philippines — The oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress has affected up to 5,185 hectares of corals, seagrass and mangroves in Oriental Mindoro and Western Visayas.

In a situational report released yesterday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said among those affected were 2,252 hectares of corals in Oriental Mindoro.

The DENR said the waters off Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Magsaysay, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, Puerto Galera, Roxas, San Jose and Calapan in Oriental Mindoro; Taytay and Agutaya in Palawan; Caluya in Antique, and Batangas City and Tingloy in Batangas province were affected by the oil slick.

The DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau office in Mimaropa said 76 percent of water samples in 89 stations exceeded quality guidelines.

In Western Visayas, 68 percent of water samples in 16 stations did not pass safety tests.

Joery Geroleo of the Naujan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said 35 kilometers of spill booms were installed in 11 coastal barangays.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard said the sunken vessel was still leaking around 400,000 liters of industrial fuel.

Meanwhile, Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela urged residents and local officials in areas affected by the oil spill to file a class suit against the owner of Princess Empress.

Tarriela said concerned government agencies found remiss in their duties should also be held accountable. — Sheila Crisostomo