CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 will impose a penalty on those responsible for the sinking of a passenger ship that resulted in the oil spill affecting more than 500 hectares of mangroves and sea grasses in Cordova.
DENR regional executive director Isabelo Montejo said a penalty will impose on the management of either 2GO or Sulpicio Express Siete after their assessment on the damages caused by the oil spill.
DENR-7 will complete its assessment this week.
“We are thoroughly assessing or evaluating our existing mangrove plantations and rehabilitation so that we can compute how much we will collect based on the actual findings and observations of the DENR-7 quick response team,†Montejo said in a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Grand Hotel.
Montejo said that the incident is the first and the largest oil spill in Central Visayas.
The DENR also called for the sealing of the remaining 115,000 liters of oil inside the sunken MV St. Thomas Aquinas so as not to prolong the oil spill problem.
Montejo said it will take at least three months for the seawaters in the affected areas to stabilize, calling for the public to help in the cleanup drive.
He said the oil spill will have a great impact on the tourism industry and the entire economy of Cebu.
Based on the data released by the Protected Area, Wildlife and Coastal Zone and Management Services (PAWCZMS), about 66 people's organizations were contracted in mangrove rehabilitation and reforestation efforts in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City.
Under the contract, DENR-7 will provide P25,000 per hectare for mangrove rehabilitation and reforestation.
The project has been implemented since 2009 through the Asian Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility.
“Our mangroves are very critical in the marine ecosystem including sea grasses and with the situation now that most of our newly planted mangroves are damaged due to the oil spill we should demand the necessary compensation here after we shall have completed the inventory,†Montejo added.
During oil spill, mangroves will die as their respiratory organs will be affected as the oil limits the entry of carbon dioxide, Montejo said.
Yesterday, the DENR-7 created a quick response team headed by Montejo and Environmental Management Bureau-7 chief William Cunado with Coastal and Marine Management division (CMMD) chief Edmondo Arregadas as ground commander.
The team already mapped out eight barangays in Cordova, where affected areas reached more than 500 hectares.
Montejo noted that severely damaged were young mangroves and sea grasses.
When asked on the impact of the oil spill to the migratory birds within the Olanggo Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Montejo said they are constantly monitoring the area.
The sanctuary serves as feeding and resting place among migratory birds from August to February.
Montejo also urged the use of indigenous or environment-friendly materials in containing the oil spill.
“We have been coordinating with the Department of Tourism together with the different hotel and resort operators within Mactan Island to establish certain mitigating measures to contain the oil spill,†Montejo said.
Cunado said nine water samples were collected near the accident area and in Cordova for examination.
BFAR advisory
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7 said it is not yet safe to eat fish and shellfish caught from areas affected by the oil spill.
“Dili pa gyud luwas kaonon ang mga isda ug kinhason sulod sa lugar diin dunay mga kontaminasyon sa oil spill,†said BFAR regional director Andres Bojos said.
Bojos urged fishermen to refrain from fishing within the affected areas. -/LPM (FREEMAN)