PCG: Oil spill reported in Mariveles, Bataan - GMA Network

An oil spill affecting around 500 square meters of coastal waters was reported in Mariveles, Bataan on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

In a statement on Friday, the PCG said approximately 25 liters of used oil were found in the coastal waters of Sitio Naswe in Barangay Ipag.

“The PCG received a report of a suspected oil spill at around 9:30 a.m.,” the PCG said.

“Initial findings identified the substance as having originated from washing activities. The source of the oil remains subject to further verification,” it added.

To contain the spill and prevent the oil from spreading, the PCG, with the help of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, deployed seven absorbent booms and 2,200 absorbent pads.

At 3:30 p.m., PCG personnel, as well as representatives from the Mariveles Municipal Agriculture Office and Barangay Ipag, installed oil spill booms along the affected shoreline.

As of 6:30 p.m., the response team had collected 800 kilograms of oil-contaminated debris and used absorbent materials. These were placed in 40 sacks for temporary storage at a secure location.

Cleanup operations are scheduled to resume on Friday.

“The PCG continues to assess the affected coastal area and coordinate with local authorities to minimize the environmental impact of the incident,” the agency said. —AOL, GMA News