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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Abalos vows filing of charges if lapses found behind sinking of Bataan ship causing massive oil spill

Abalos vows filing of charges if lapses found behind sinking of Bataan ship causing massive oil spill

Published Aug 2, 2024 09:53 am
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos (MB FILE PHOTO)
(MB FILE PHOTO)

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. said appropriate charges will be slapped against those who would be found liable for negligence that resulted in the sinking of MTKR Terranova in Bataan which is now causing a massive oil spill in Bataan and nearby areas. 

In a press briefing, Abalos said investigation is now being conducted to determine either if there are people who could be held responsible, or if the sinking of the ship was indeed due to uncontrolled circumstances like bad weather condition.

Abalos also noted that the affected local government units (LGUs) like Cavite have all the right to file a class suit due to the ecological, economic and health hazards posed by the oil spill in their shores.

The oil spill caused massive ecological damage in Central Luzon, National Capital Region (NCR) and some parts of Calabarzon region. 

Abalos stressed the urgency to conduct an in-depth review on the protocol, manpower, checklist and other shipping regulations to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents.

On July 29, Abalos stated that an inter-agency task force was created to facilitate the containment efforts and conduct the appropriate mitigation measures to address the oil spill problem at Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan.

During the joint National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) meeting held in San Fernando, Pampanga, Abalos said that the task force is composed of the DILG, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Abalos noted that the President gave strict orders for the concerned national government agencies to provide the necessary support for the affected LGUs using the lessons from the experiences of Oriental Mindoro oil spill last year.

“Tutulong po ang lahat, kaya andito ang national government agencies upang paghandaan natin ito paano i-contain itong langis na ito. Ang dapat nating paghandaan, gaano karami ang langis na ito. Ito ba ay masa-salvage, ilang litro ang naiwan nito (Everybody will help, that is why the national government agencies are here to prepare for this oil spill. What we should prepare for is the volume of the oil. Can this still be salvaged, how many liters of these are left),’’ Abalos said. 

The provincial government units of Bataan and Bulacan, LGUs of Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pasay, Manila, Navotas, and Cavite were also present during the emergency meeting.

MTKR Terranova, owned by Shogun Ships Company Incorporated, capsized on July 25 while carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil around 3.6 nautical miles or around seven kilometers east of Lamao Point. 

“Let us all be prepared for the worst, dapat handa po tayo at maisama natin sa pag-factor ang bagyo, current, at iba pa (we should be prepared and we should include the factors of typhoon, current and other possible conditions),’’ Abalos added.

The DILG chief also assured that the inter-agency task force will move forward with concrete action and will provide regular reports to keep everyone informed about the status of oil spill cleanup and containment.

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