Batangas, Bacolod oil spills contained

[GLT]

Batangas, Bacolod oil spills contained
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/07/2010 3:38 PM | Updated as of 07/07/2010 3:38 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The oil spills in Batangas and Bacolod have been
contained, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday.

The PCG said in a press release that the oil spill response team has
completed the clean-up operation in the fishing village of Talibayog
in Calatagan, Batangas.

It said an aircraft is still monitoring the area to ascertain if there
are other oil spills in the area of Balayan Bay.

The oil spill was discovered Sunday, but the PCG has yet to reveal
where it came from.

The PCG said it has taken oil samples from 4 foreign-flagged vessels
on lay-up in Balayan Bay. The ships are M/V Sta Annabella, M/V San
Clemente, M/V Sta Alexandra and M/V Sta Fabiola.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said in an interview on ANC’s
Headstart that the oil spill in Calatagan town could have been
intentional.

"My worry is if it's intentional. If it is, we will really run after
them," Paje said.

He said "may dalawa nang nahuli ang Coast Guard," but did not
elaborate.

He said the culprit may be liable under the United Nations Convention
on the Prevention of Maritime Pollution.

The new environment secretary's biggest worry so far is the effect of
the oil spill on the mangroves. The clean-up will not be easy, he
said.

PCG said only "minimal traces of oil were seen within the affected
mangrove area." It, however, said the mangrove will be monitored for
rehabilitation and recovery.

Bacolod oil spill

In a statement issued Tuesday night, Chevron Philippines reported the
containment of its product spill in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

The source supposedly came from residual fuel oil from a 46-meter
portion of a pipeline that had been "cut, removed, and stolen by still
unidentified persons and entities."

Chevron said the free end portion of the remaining line has already
been temporarily plugged.

The PCG said in the same press statement that local managers from
Shell and Petron have also responded to the oil spill.

It said oil spill boom have been laid down around the spill site. With
a report from Marty Go, ABS-CBN Negros
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