REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Task Force formed in Oriental Mindoro to address Oil Spill in Submerged Tanker
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has formed Task Force Naujan Oil Spill after an emergency meeting with the Philippine Coast Guard, Oriental Mindoro Governor Bonz Dolor, and Naujan Mayor Henry Joel Teves. The task force aims to address the oil spill that occurred after MT Princess Empress, which carries 800,000 liters of industrialized fuel oil, has already submerged in the area.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga has designated Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Marilou Erni as the Task Force Commander. Other members of the Task Force include Undersecretary Jonas Leones, Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna, Assistant Secretary and concurrent Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Gilbert Gonzales, Assistant Secretary and concurrent Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Director Marcial Amaro Jr., Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio, and representatives from the local government units.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is the lead agency tasked with response operations in the affected area. PCG will install spill booms to protect the locally-managed marine protected areas. The Task Force, in cooperation with PCG and the Philippine Air Force, will conduct an aerial surveillance in the coming days to further assess the situation.
As of writing, the oil spill has reached an area six kilometers long and four kilometers wide. DENR-EMB carried out water sampling in three municipalities: Naujan, Pola, and Pinamalayan. DENR-BMB has mapped potential risk areas including seagrass beds, mangroves, and dispersion pathways for spawned fish larvae.
Governor Bonz Dolor posted on Facebook that the province prioritizes addressing the oil spill problem, and will be forming an Executive Order for the Incident Command Structure. The DENR, Philippine Coast Guard, and the local government will work together to address the issue.
The DENR expressed full support and assistance to Governor Dolor, Mayor Teves, and the other local governments affected. It has coordinated with experts in the private sector to immediately address the emergency situation and create a mid to long-term risk management strategy for the affected areas.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga has designated Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Marilou Erni as the Task Force Commander. Other members of the Task Force include Undersecretary Jonas Leones, Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna, Assistant Secretary and concurrent Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Gilbert Gonzales, Assistant Secretary and concurrent Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Director Marcial Amaro Jr., Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio, and representatives from the local government units.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is the lead agency tasked with response operations in the affected area. PCG will install spill booms to protect the locally-managed marine protected areas. The Task Force, in cooperation with PCG and the Philippine Air Force, will conduct an aerial surveillance in the coming days to further assess the situation.
As of writing, the oil spill has reached an area six kilometers long and four kilometers wide. DENR-EMB carried out water sampling in three municipalities: Naujan, Pola, and Pinamalayan. DENR-BMB has mapped potential risk areas including seagrass beds, mangroves, and dispersion pathways for spawned fish larvae.
Governor Bonz Dolor posted on Facebook that the province prioritizes addressing the oil spill problem, and will be forming an Executive Order for the Incident Command Structure. The DENR, Philippine Coast Guard, and the local government will work together to address the issue.
The DENR expressed full support and assistance to Governor Dolor, Mayor Teves, and the other local governments affected. It has coordinated with experts in the private sector to immediately address the emergency situation and create a mid to long-term risk management strategy for the affected areas.
Mar 2, 2023
