Oil spill threatens Bataan waters
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Jul 15, 2010, 1:44:21 PM7/15/10
to Philippine environment conservation
Oil spill threatens Bataan waters
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/15/2010 11:51 PM | Updated as of 07/16/2010 12:19 AM
Post-Basyang: poison lurks in high seas
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is monitoring
the condition in Bataan's seas amid threats of a possible oil spill
following the sinking of two tankers off the province on Thursday.
Two tankers carrying tons of oil and LPG tanks sank off Limay, Bataan.
This happened a day after 9 barges smashed into each other in the
waters off Mariveles at the height of Typhoon Basyang.
In Mariveles, the Coast Guard has begun efforts to contain gasoline
and crude oil spilling from barges that either ran aground, or
capsized.
Meantime, PCG Station Commander Lieutenant General Geronimo Tuvilla
said they have put a response team on stand-by to deal with any
eventuality arising from the Limay tanker-sinking.
But residents are worried, and authorities said there is reason to be
concerned.
One of the tankers sank near a petro-chemical factory, and local
authorities said this may have disastrous consequences.
"Once may leak, pag may spark, cause yan ng pagsabog. Ang LPG pa naman
very volatile chemical yan," said Edilberto Cruz, Administrator,
Baranggay Lamao, Limay Bataan.
But while the threat of a new disaster lurks after the typhoon, some
residents are already grieving their loss.
The family of Noel Salomon, who perished from Basyang, are grieving.
Salomon, was among 15 fishermen who went missing at the height of the
typhoon after their fishing boats sank. His body was among the 14
recovered on Thursday.
Salomon, the family breadwinner, left behind a pregnant wife and eight
children. Salomon's wife Noralyn is at a loss on how her family can
carry on.
Juliet Magallanes and Maricel Paghubasan also lost their husbands to
the same tragedy.
The search continues for one more missing fisherman.
Meantime, authorities are also conducting efforts to find 15 other
fishermen who went missing in Catanduanes.
According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), as of
Thursday 6 p.m., 36 people--12 in Central Luzon, 30 in CALABARZON, 4
in Bicol region--have died from Basyang
A total of 18 have been injured and 46 were still missing.
The initial damage to infrastrucutre and agriculture was estimated at
P74 million. A total of 945 houses were destroyed, and over 10,000
damaged.
More than 30,000 families or 150,000 people were affected by Basyang,
with 1,757 families or nearly 9,000 people still in evacuation
centers.
Fish kill
Aside from the loss of lives and damage to infrastructure, Typhoon
Basyang also dealt a blow to the fishing industry.
In Camarines Sur, tons of tilapia have been lost after a fish kill
struck Lake Buhi.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Typhoon
Basyang may have sent up wastes that had settled at the bottom of the
lake, poisoning the fish.
They added an excess of sulfur and water lilies in the lake may have
also caused the fish kill. Experts are now looking into what actually
caused the fish kill.
Fish is selling cheap in Lower Bicutan, Taguig, which has become a
virtual public market, after the typhoon damaged fish corral resulting
in a sizeable fish haul.
Consumers are over fresh milkfish (bangus), tilapia, kanduli and other
fish at cheaper prices.
A kilo of bangus which sells for P90 in public markets, sells for only
P40 here. Almost half a sack of big bangus costs P300.
The cost of bangus in public markets in Metro Manila has also gone
down. Small bangus now sells for P60 per kilo from P80, while the
bigger ones cost P80 per kilo, from the usual P100.
Vendors said many were forced to sell the fish after the typhoon
damaged fishponds.
But while the prices of freshwater fish have dropped, saltwater fish
cost more. The poor man's fish `galunggong' now sells for P80 per kilo
from the previous P60.
And while the prices of vegetables, chicken, pork and beef remain the
same, some vendors said the typhoon has affected their income.
They cited the fact that people are cautious about buying given the
brownouts, adding they have also incurred additional costs including
having to spend for ice to keep their meats in good condition. -- With
reports from Ron Gagalac and Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News; ANC
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 07/15/2010 11:51 PM | Updated as of 07/16/2010 12:19 AM
Post-Basyang: poison lurks in high seas
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is monitoring
the condition in Bataan's seas amid threats of a possible oil spill
following the sinking of two tankers off the province on Thursday.
Two tankers carrying tons of oil and LPG tanks sank off Limay, Bataan.
This happened a day after 9 barges smashed into each other in the
waters off Mariveles at the height of Typhoon Basyang.
In Mariveles, the Coast Guard has begun efforts to contain gasoline
and crude oil spilling from barges that either ran aground, or
capsized.
Meantime, PCG Station Commander Lieutenant General Geronimo Tuvilla
said they have put a response team on stand-by to deal with any
eventuality arising from the Limay tanker-sinking.
But residents are worried, and authorities said there is reason to be
concerned.
One of the tankers sank near a petro-chemical factory, and local
authorities said this may have disastrous consequences.
"Once may leak, pag may spark, cause yan ng pagsabog. Ang LPG pa naman
very volatile chemical yan," said Edilberto Cruz, Administrator,
Baranggay Lamao, Limay Bataan.
But while the threat of a new disaster lurks after the typhoon, some
residents are already grieving their loss.
The family of Noel Salomon, who perished from Basyang, are grieving.
Salomon, was among 15 fishermen who went missing at the height of the
typhoon after their fishing boats sank. His body was among the 14
recovered on Thursday.
Salomon, the family breadwinner, left behind a pregnant wife and eight
children. Salomon's wife Noralyn is at a loss on how her family can
carry on.
Juliet Magallanes and Maricel Paghubasan also lost their husbands to
the same tragedy.
The search continues for one more missing fisherman.
Meantime, authorities are also conducting efforts to find 15 other
fishermen who went missing in Catanduanes.
According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), as of
Thursday 6 p.m., 36 people--12 in Central Luzon, 30 in CALABARZON, 4
in Bicol region--have died from Basyang
A total of 18 have been injured and 46 were still missing.
The initial damage to infrastrucutre and agriculture was estimated at
P74 million. A total of 945 houses were destroyed, and over 10,000
damaged.
More than 30,000 families or 150,000 people were affected by Basyang,
with 1,757 families or nearly 9,000 people still in evacuation
centers.
Fish kill
Aside from the loss of lives and damage to infrastructure, Typhoon
Basyang also dealt a blow to the fishing industry.
In Camarines Sur, tons of tilapia have been lost after a fish kill
struck Lake Buhi.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Typhoon
Basyang may have sent up wastes that had settled at the bottom of the
lake, poisoning the fish.
They added an excess of sulfur and water lilies in the lake may have
also caused the fish kill. Experts are now looking into what actually
caused the fish kill.
Fish is selling cheap in Lower Bicutan, Taguig, which has become a
virtual public market, after the typhoon damaged fish corral resulting
in a sizeable fish haul.
Consumers are over fresh milkfish (bangus), tilapia, kanduli and other
fish at cheaper prices.
A kilo of bangus which sells for P90 in public markets, sells for only
P40 here. Almost half a sack of big bangus costs P300.
The cost of bangus in public markets in Metro Manila has also gone
down. Small bangus now sells for P60 per kilo from P80, while the
bigger ones cost P80 per kilo, from the usual P100.
Vendors said many were forced to sell the fish after the typhoon
damaged fishponds.
But while the prices of freshwater fish have dropped, saltwater fish
cost more. The poor man's fish `galunggong' now sells for P80 per kilo
from the previous P60.
And while the prices of vegetables, chicken, pork and beef remain the
same, some vendors said the typhoon has affected their income.
They cited the fact that people are cautious about buying given the
brownouts, adding they have also incurred additional costs including
having to spend for ice to keep their meats in good condition. -- With
reports from Ron Gagalac and Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News; ANC
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