US Coast Guard, NOAA teams assist in oil recovery
At least 21 areas in the provinces of Bataan and Cavite have declared a state of calamity due to the impact of the oil spill caused by the sinking of the M/T Terranova, the Office of Civil Defense said Tuesday.
In its situation report, the OCD said the figure includes Bataan’s 11 towns and capital city Balanga as well as Cavite’s seven towns and two cities — Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, Ternate, Cavite City and Bacoor City.
Bataan Gov. Joet Garcia on Monday signed the resolution declaring a province-wide state of calamity, noting that the oil spills have affected 17,000 fishermen in the province.
MT Terra Nova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel. capsized off Limay, Bataan on July 25.
Two days later, MTKR Jason Bradley, which was carrying about 5,500 liters of diesel, sank in the waters off Mariveles town in Bataan. A third vessel, MV Mirola 1, ran aground near the shore of Mariveles.
Garcia said some 10,174 families in Limay and 4,822 families in Mariveles were affected.
Earlier reports also placed the estimated cost of damage in Cavite at P1 billion, with the province declaring a no-catch zone for fish and shellfish that has affected at least 31,000 fisherfolk.
Eight personnel from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) arrived in Bataan on Tuesday to assist in oil spill recovery efforts.
The teams will assist in recovery operations on the three maritime incidents.
Last week, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that oil recovery has begun for MTKR Jason Bradley and MV Mirola 1 with the deployment of oil spill booms and the use of water cannons to help disperse spilled oil.
On the other hand, MT Terra Nova has been secured with capping bags on all of its valves and high-level alarm pipes, in addition to two layers of oil spill booms placed around the sunken vessel.
Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla Jr. met with lawyers and representatives of MT Terra Nova on Monday for the established fact-finding committee, which will investigate whether the management of the sunken tanker has criminal liabilities.
Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV said the meeting was also attended by representatives of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC)
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline State of calamity declared in more areas following Bataan oil spill
