Oil leak minimized, 3 holes plugged

(Oil outflow is now 150 liters per hour instead of 300 liters)

CEBU, Philippines - More good news was discussed yesterday at the command conference initiated by the Cebu City Government as technical experts announced they have located and plugged three leak holes at the sunken passenger ship that collided with a cargo ship Friday evening.

“The joint diving team of Malayan and Nippon has sealed at least three leak sources. The total outflow of oil is now 150 liters per hour from the initial 300,” Engr. Noel Kimmayong from Malayan Towage and Salvage said.

“While there is still leak, it has now been minimized. That’s a very good news being our priority,” 2GO AVP for Shipping Management Lito Salvio stressed.

Yesterday was the second day of the dive that started 5am by the private experts hired by 2GO, who owns the sunken passenger vessel MV St. Thomas Aquinas.

Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station Commander Weniel Azcuna said they are closely supervising the divers and experts from Malayan, Nippon Salvage, and International Tanker Oil Pollution Federation (ITOPF).

As to addressing the oil spill from the sunken ship, Azcuna emphasized that both 2GO and cargo vessel owner Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation are cooperating and coordinating with state agencies.

“Cleanup drives continue, focusing on most part of Cordova in coordination with Mayor Adelino Sitoy,” Azcuna said.

Present during last night’s command conference is Romeo Cal who represented Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas.

“Governor Matugas visited Cosmopolitan this morning (Thursday) to personally assess the situation and talk to our constituents affected by the sinking,” Cal said.

He noted upon inquiry with Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes management the number of affected constituents, most of whom are from Siargao.

“Of our constituents affected, 20 were missing, 10 identified dead, and more than 10 survivors,” Cal added.

A separate financial assistance is also allotted for affected constituents amounting to P5,000, to be given to survivors and claimants of fatalities, he said.  Claimants need to secure requirements including a certification from 2GO Group as well a valid identification establishing relation to the victim.

Cal said they will stay in Cebu until all concerns of their constituents are resolved.

Cosmopolitan Funeral representative Engr. Bong Ebo said of the 76 bodies brought to them since the mishap exactly a week ago today, 28 were already released and 19 others are ready for shipment, waiting for their scheduled trip.

Ebo added that as of six last night, there were still 26 unidentified fatalities and 48 identified.

After inspection, city health officer Dr. Estella Ygonia said the funeral homes has been following protocol, stressing there is no smell from the morgue.

Azcuna stressed that while unaccounted passengers might reach 70 from yesterday’s latest number of 45, it will not be more than 100. He added that coast guard will stick to the data posted over their website but is cross matching them with that of 2GO and the retrieval team.

To help claimants speed up processing of requirements, Mayor Michael Rama offered free notarial and affidavit services from the city hall.

Department of Social Welfare and Development listed basic requirements for fatality claimants: marriage certificate for spouses and birth certificate for sibling or parent. These would have to be accompanied by a valid government issued ID.

Rama yesterday said that should there be further problem in terms of technical requirements in claiming, he will call vice president Jejomar Binay to intervene.

Meanwhile, in order to gather as much human hair to be used as oil spill boom, a hair cut session at the city hall lobby has started with volunteer employees and even concerned individuals donating their hair.

Also in attendance at the meeting were representatives from NSO, SOCO, DOH, Grant Go of PSACC. (FREEMAN)