Oil slicks spotted in La Union, Ilocos Sur coasts

MANILA -- Authorities have spotted oil slicks off the coast of La Union and Ilocos Sur supposedly coming from a capsized ship or a damaged vessel, the state disaster agency reported Wednesday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said scattered oil sludge or tar balls in solid form at about one to two kilometers in length were found in the villages of Paratong Norte to Mindoro in Bangar, La Union.

As of Tuesday, other affected shorelines are from these areas:

La Union

- Barangay Sto. Domingo, Luna
- Barangay Urbiztondo, San Juan
- Barangay Darigayos, Bacnotan
- Barangay Dalumpines, San Fernando City

Ilocos Sur

- Municipalities of Tagudin, Sta. Lucia, Candon, Santiago, San Esteban

In an update on Wednesday morning, the NDRRMC said there were no reported fish kill due to the incident, adding that the odor of the oil slick is petroleum-based but disperses immediately.

The actual source of the oil slicks has yet to be determined, the NDRRMC said.

However, the agency also revealed possible causes of the incident, including the reported damaging of a vessel that docked in the waters of Bangar, La Union, a day before the oil slicks were discovered.

"The vessel may have sustained damage (ran aground) releasing oil or it may have intentionally dumped the oil," the NDRRMC said.

Moreover, the oil slick may have come from the M/V Harita Bauxite, a Myanmar vessel that capsized on waters off Bolinao, Pangasinan on February 16.

"The leaking oil may have travelled/washed away underwater and eventually emerged in La Union," the NDRRMC said.

The agency said the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources have already conducted an ocular inspection earlier this week and conducted clean-up operations.

Police, village, and local disaster authorities have also coordinated and assisted in the clean-up drives, the NDRRMC said.

The Provincial Government of La Union has also conducted an emergency meeting for the contingency planning and management of the oil slicks. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)