THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Southeastern Mindanao conducted a maritime pollution exercise (MARPOLEX) 2018 in Davao Gulf Thursday, August 16, to strengthen the capacity and inter-operability of the agency in addressing a possible oil spill.
Colonel Marco Gines, acting deputy commander of PCG Eastern Mindanao, said that they initiated the activity to ensure that should there be an oil spill in Davao Gulf, the floating assets, equipment and personnel are prepared to combat the threats in the environment.
“Ito ay activity ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to make sure that our environment is protected kung sakaling may oil spill, natural-made disaster. We involved all the stakeholders, yong mga oil companies,” he said, adding that in case they have their available oil spill boom, they could act as first responder.
The activity is participated by private stakeholders particularly companies whose businesses are related to oil, and observed by the Davao City Government Maritime Coordinating Council, Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), Task Force Davao (TFD) and other related agencies.
During the exercise, participants played out an oil spill simulation. Two ships collided with each other, causing an oil spill from one of the boats. Minutes later, the PCG arrived and assessed the situation. A bigger ship arrived and its crew laid out the oil spill boom or a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill.
“We are doing this in Davao Gulf to make sure na limpyo ang atong dagat at protected ang ating marine environment (that our seas are clean and the marine environment are protected),” he added.
Although there are still gaps, however, he said that with the continuous conduct of the exercise, the level of preparedness will be enhanced and capability will be developed.
Gines cited that the challenge on their part is responding to large scale oil spill, thus, it would require a lot of resources to prevent it from spreading. He urged the help of the local government and other concerned agencies to build up their own capacity for oil pollution control.