Massive oil spill continues affecting residents in Philippines' coastal localities

Residents on the western Philippine island of Mindoro are still affected by a massive oil spill from a sunken tanker, as government and private-sector responders scramble to determine the extent of damage to livelihoods and marine resources.

The Philippine government has banned fishing, the islanders' main source of income, and prevented them from entering the water since the Princess Empress, which was carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel oil, encountered engine trouble and sank on February 28.

Authorities said the oil spill has reached coastal areas in at least three western Philippine provinces, affecting over 100,000 people.

Jennifer Cruz, mayor of Pola where half of the coastal town showed traces of the oil, said the ban on fishing can remain in effect as long as the sunken vessel is out there. The government began paying residents of the town 6 USD per day to scoop the oil and put up fence booms as the spill is beginning to threaten mangroves.

The international community has joined hands in helping the Philippines handle the incident. The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, a London-based oil spill responder that has sent a team to the Philippines, said that a remotely operated underwater vehicle will be deployed later this week to assess the condition of the tanker and determine exactly how much oil is leaking.

Japan has dispatched a team of oil disaster responders to help the Philippines contain the spill. On March 13, the Japanese government handed over dozens of oil snares, oil blotters and protective equipment to the country./.

VNA