Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13) — The latest simulation on the Oriental Mindoro oil spill possibly reaching the Verde Island Passage this week serves as a wake-up call for more urgent containment, according to an environmental advocacy group.
Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) Deputy Director and Protect Verde Island Passage (Protect VIP) co-convenor Avril de Torres says the simulation model by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) validates reports on the ground of widespread impact.
“This is horrible news that we have been dreading to hear, but we had also expected considering the location where the tanker sank. There’s massive ecological and economic value in this Verde Island Passage that is being threatened by this oil spill,” De Torres told CNN Philippines.
Most of the oil will stay around Naujan coast and Pola Bay, based on the UP MSI's bulletin, while some oil may flow northward to the coast of Calapan, Verde Island, and other areas of Batangas due to the weakening amihan or northeast monsoon.
“These projections show that there is extreme urgency to address where the oil spill is projected to reach. And to prevent them from impacting more communities than it already had,” she added.
Around two million people who depend on the Verde Island Passage (VIP), the richest marine habitat in the world, for food and livelihood will be affected should the oil reach the area. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, offered assurance that contingency measures are in place.
De Torres urges the government to expedite oil spill cleanup efforts and address its effects on livelihood and tourism, as well as hold individuals involved in the oil catastrophe accountable.
“Responses should focus on holding accountable the actors, containing the oil spill, preventing more communities from suffering the impacts of this ecological nightmare, and pursuing long-term reforms to make sure instances like this don’t happen again,” she said.
The PCG said it aims to finish the oil spill clean-up in four months, following the deadline given by President Bongbong Marcos Jr., with experts from Japan assisting in the operations.
The coast guard has also transported spill response workwear, masks, oil-proof working gloves, oil-proof rubber boots, oil blotters, and oil snares for use in the containment.
The PCG has also requested additional response equipment and absorbent pads from its United States counterpart to further speed up the process