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Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Barge full of oil debris sinks off Misamis Occidental
By Lizanilla J. Amarga and Richel v. Umel
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A barge carrying oil-soaked debris from cleanup efforts in Guimaras sank at around 9 p.m. Monday off a coastal town in Misamis Occidental, the regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported Tuesday.
Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Ocampos and OCD regional director Salvador Estudillo immediately deployed rescue officers to the affected coastal area to assess the situation and do some "damage control."
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Already, environmental groups Partido Kalikasan and Task Force Macajalar led by lawyer Manuel Ravanera said they will conduct an "independent investigation" on the incident, as it seems to be a "double kill on the environment, first in Guimaras and now in Pangil Bay and nearby areas."
Petron Health, Safety and Environment Manager Carlos Tan said "they are taking charge of the incident." Petron hired the barge to ferry debris collected from the oil spill in Guimaras.
He said several teams are monitoring the area and the Waterborne Industry Spill Equipment (Wise) had been mobilized to deal with the contingency.
Estudillo said Tuesday that Barge Ras was being towed by Tugboat Vega.
He said the barge was bound for Holcim, Inc. in Lugait, Misamis Oriental where the oil-soaked debris from the Guimaras spill were to be disposed.
"But the barge sank around 9 in the evening of November 20 (Monday) some five kilometers northeast from Plaridel, Misamis Occidental due to rough seas," he said.
Pollutant
Estudillo said they are still waiting for reports from the teams sent over to the area where the barge sank. "We are still gathering data. The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council of Misamis Occidental is still in a meeting," he said late Tuesday afternoon.
Nevertheless, Estudillo said Petron has already issued a press release saying the effects will not be that extensive.
"According to the Petron media press release, danger is very unlikely because the debris with traces of oil from Guimaras had been weathering for three months," he said.
Office of the Civil Defense plans and operations chief Roger Lapura said the extent of the damage on the coastal town of Plaridel would depend on the volume of oil-soaked debris carried by the barge from the Guimaras area and on whether they would surface, among other factors.
"The barge may not be carrying so much as it is small considering that it was just towed by a tugboat," he said.
When asked whether the oil-soaked debris will somehow affect the ecosystems in Pangil Bay and other nearby areas, he said, "Yes, the oil-soaked debris is a pollutant."
Shocking news
Holcim vice president Bobby Sajonia told Sun.Star they have been expecting the barge to arrive at Holcim port Tuesday. They learned about the accident early Tuesday morning.
Sajonia said the cargo was supposed to be the seventh and the last load for treatment and disposal since September.
Ravanera said the incident was a "double kill" to the environment.
"This is shocking news to our group. We will conduct an investigation over this incident," he added.
Ravanera said the habitats as well as the fishers in the coastal towns who rely on the natural resources from Pangil Bay would be drastically affected by the incident.
"Our environment has been penalized twice because of their human inefficiencies," he said.
National Disaster Coordinating Council Chairman Avelino Cruz convened Task Force Guimaras to take immediate action.
The governor, meanwhile, dispatched a support rescue team to the area. No casualties were reported. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (November 22, 2006 issue)
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