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Monday, June 09, 2008
Oil sludge spills into Davao Gulf
DAVAO CITY -- Around 1,500 liters of coconut oil sludge reportedly spilled into the Davao Gulf Saturday after days of heavy rain.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commander Roy Echeverria, station chief of PCG Davao, said the coco oil sludge might have come from the septic tank of one of the nearby factories.
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The overflowing waters from nearby plants might have caused it, Echeverria said, adding that heavy rains has been bothering residents in the area since Thursday evening.
The PCG, however, said there is no need for worry since it has taken action and is now cleaning and controlling the oil spill.
The Coast Guard has cleaned up the waters off the coast of Sasa Wharf in Davao City, and the oil spill was declared under control around 2 p.m. Saturday.
However, residents near the shore complained of the foul odor.
Authorities are now investigating as to where the oil sludge actually came from. The company where the oil spill came from could be held liable for the damages the oil spill caused.
In a telephone interview Sunday morning, Davao City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III said the sludge came from the plant of the Bio Energy 8 owned by the Zubiris located at Km. 10 Sasa.
Bio Energy 8 is a company that processes coconuts into oil products.
Several other plants are located near the Davao Gulf, which has been threatened by several other environment hazards aside from Saturday's oil spill.
Tons of mining residues were earlier found spilled into the Gulf, and the intrusion of commercial fishing vessels, use of dynamite and cyanide, and other harmful fishing methods continue to threaten it.
Davao Gulf has been identified as one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world.
As the 10th major fishing ground in the country, the gulf is a critical resource supporting the economies of five cities and 16 municipalities surrounding it. (Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (June 9, 2008 issue)
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