By Pearl Gumapos
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday (July 8) deployed BRP Panglao (FPB-2402) to conduct close monitoring and provide necessary assistance to the distressed cargo vessel, MV Palawan Pearl, which is located outside the breakwater of Baseco Beach.
MV Palawan Pearl collided with a foreign dredger, BKM 104, at the vicinity waters off South Harbor Anchorage area at around 2:10 a.m. today.
BRP Panglao, together with PCG Station Manila, conducted an assessment as part of its initial investigation.
According to the initial investigation, BKM 104 is a foreign utility vessel contracted to perform dredging and other land development activity needed in the construction of the New Manila Airport.
According to Rexchel Fabrigas, an individual aboard the MV Palawan Pearl, about 3,000 liters of diesel oil filled the oil storage tank of the ship before the incident occurred.
It also had a drum of diesel oil, 60 liters of engine oil, and five liters of bilge oil.
The Marine Environmental Protection Force of PCG District NCR – Central Luzon is now preparing for the laying of four segments of an oil spill boom as a mitigating contingency measure.
Meanwhile, the PCG started construction on Wednesday of a training institute for administrative personnel in Taguig City.
The new building is being eyed to be a “center of excellence” in producing human resource management command (HRMC) personnel, the PCG said in a Facebook post.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, PCG Vice Admiral Oscar C. Endona Jr. commended the HRMC and its head, Commodore Juan Manuel Ramos Jr., for the project and for “significantly improving the administrative and human resource aspects of the PCG.”
The project—dubbed HRMC-Satellite Training Institute Building—is made possible through a “generous donation” from Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison, Endona said. – jlo
