THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced on Monday the completion of underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations in Oriental Mindoro province as part of mitigation efforts in the oil spill caused by the sinking of the M/T Princess Empress nearly two months ago.
The PCG said the ROVs identified 24 sources of leakage from the sunken vessel and temporarily capped all but one using specialized bags from the United Kingdom and a local source.
The Unified Incident Command Post in Calapan City sourced 16 specialized bags from a golf bag manufacturing company in Silang, Cavite.
“One remaining pressure valve producing a slow intermittent release of oil at the second Pressure Valve portside was not capped due to obstructions that may compromise the ROV operations,” the PCG reported.
The PCG expressed gratitude to dynamic positioning vessels Shin Nichi Maru of Japan and the United States’ Pacific Valkyrie, Japan Coast Guard, US Navy Supervisor of Salvage, local government units, and other stakeholders for their support during the ROV operations.
The PCG said it will continue to partner with agencies in offshore and shoreline cleanup and assessment to reduce the environmental impact until the source of the spill is permanently addressed.
The oil tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank off Naujan town on February 28.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. went to Pola town on Saturday for an aerial inspection and distribution of aid to affected residents.
Oriental Mindoro municipalities that also received government aid include Baco, Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Calapan City, Gloria, Naujan, Mansalay, Pinamalayan, Roxas, San Teodoro, Socorro and Victoria.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is carrying out a cash-for-work program in the cleanup operations in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
As of posting, more than 25,000 families in 14 towns are engaged in the program, with a budget allocation of P190.1 million.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources previously said the cost of the damage is nearing P1 billion.(PNA)
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