
By Gabriela Baron
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday, March 2, that the oil spill in the waters of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro contained industrial fuel oil.
This, after MT Princess Empress, a vessel carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel fully submerged on Wednesday due to engine trouble.
PCG’s MTUG Titan continues to apply dispersant to the water.
According to PCG, it also observed “patches of emulsified oil” and has spread near Sable Island waters.
It has also seen oil spill stranding along the shoreline of Barangay Buhay na Tubig in Pola, Oriental Mindoro.
PCG said it alerted its Marine Environmental Protection Unit team and other concerned local government units to proceed to the area for shoreline clean-up.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is “closely monitoring” the potential biodiversity impacts of the said oil spill. -ag