Residents of tourist town Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte led by Mayor Matilde K. Hanson Sales expressed their joint thanks to the Philippines Coast Guard, headed by Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, the Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Angelito Alvarez and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for their concerted efforts to avert oil spill spillage from the wreck of Korean vessel M/V Nam Yang 8 that remains grounded off the shores of Pagudpud.

The ill-fated M/V Nam Yang 8 ran a ground in the shoreline of Barangay Balaoi, Pagudpud town last January 1, while on its way to China from Aparri, loaded with 2,615 tons of magnetite. It had some 160,000 liters of bunker in its oil tanks at the time when hit by giant waves and strong rains.

In response to the call of Pagudpud residents led by Mayor Sales, the PCG under the Department of Transportation and Communications, through PCG Northern Luzon district based at Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union, issued an emergency salvage permit to Salvor Royal Jessan Petromin Resources, Inc. to remove the grounded vessel that is in danger of becoming a total wreck due to big cracks and hole on the ship’s hull, and sea water already filled up the deep tanks which may burst anytime due to continuous waves bumping the vessels. Furthermore, spillage of oil is already observed.

“Big waves are attributed to the present weather condition, and in fact, already felt with the onslaught of typhoon ‘Domeng’ and partly by typhoon ‘Basyang,” said Mayor Sales, stressing that immediate salvage of the shipwreck is imperative, as marine life, environment resources, including fish and corals, are adversely affected.

Likewise, the PCG Currimao station in Ilocos Norte, also issued an authority and certification to the same salvor to transport salvaged items taken from the grounded vessel M/V Nam Yang 8 with a total of approximately 150-gross tonnage from the Port of Salomague, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur to Navotas Fishport, Navotas, Metro Manila.

Last July 27, Commissioner Alvarez directed concerned BoC officers to turn over the ship’s wreck to the municipality of Pagudpud, after agreeing in principle with Mayor Sales to let the local government of Pagudpud to assume ‘full authority’ and jurisdiction’ to implement salvage operations to remove the wrecked M/V Nam Yang 8 from the town’s coastline to prevent the peril of an ‘oil spill.’

Alvarez clearly made his order to BoC officers and personnel, in the presence of Mayor Sales, BoC acting district collector Enrico Turingan, Jr. and Alvarez assistants, and the salvor’s lawyer Josephus Omar Varilla, right at Alvarez’ office in Port Area, Manila.