Mayor Pablo Ortega formed a team on Friday (Nov. 9) to immediately conduct underwater clean-up of the coal spill at the 75-hectare fish sanctuary in Barangay Lingsat here to prevent further damage.
Divers from the city government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippine CoastGuard are now joining hands to assess the damage and to contain the coal spilled along the San Fernando Bay.
Battered by heavy rains and strong winds, the Indonesian barge carrying 9,00 metric tons of coal bound for the Holcim plant, ran aground off this city, spilling part of its shipment.
Ortega directed Valmar Valdez, city environment officer, as head of the team which include divers’ organization in the city, the DENR, the transporter of the barge, Holcim Cement – coal owner, and local officials.
“We should clean this immediately because it will endanger the source of livelihood for our fishermen in the area,” Ortega said.
The cleaning started yesterday wherein divers and fishermen joined in hauling balls of coil that where stocked at the sea floor of the fish sanctuary.
Ortega said they could not yet determine how many of the 9,000 metric tons of coal have been dropped to the sea where century-old corals were situated while the effect of contamination is still being evaluated.
Valdez, on the other hand, said they will make an action plan to address the damage with the help of DENR and other concerned agencies including Holcim.
Valdez, said that water samplings will be brought to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Manila to determine the effect of the contamination while the Coastal Resources Management Office will study the situation of corals.
The Indonesian barge and its tugboat were still at the area but the balls of coal have stopped falling into the sea since the waves were already calm.
Ortega, who inspected the barge on board a patrol boat, said it can only be pulled out from the area if they will transfer the cargo because it already hit the bottom of coral rocks.
The barge came from Indonesia and on its way to the Poro Point seaport when it ran aground on Wednesday morning (November 7, 2007) due to the impact of typhoon Kabayan.
During the ocular inspection of city officials on Thursday (Nov. 8, 2007), it was found out that balls of coal have already spread along the shores of Barangays Carlatan and Dalumpinas Oeste while the contamination could affect the five other neighboring coastal barangays. |
