Improvised booms are being deployed along the shores of Manila Bay as local authorities grapple with the aftermath of a recent oil spill. A tanker capsized last week, leaking 52,000 liters of diesel into the bay, with the spill reaching the beaches and adversely affecting fishing activities.
“We worry the oil spill will worsen and cause pollution here. It will also make children sick,” expressed a concerned local resident.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has identified the MT Jason Bradley as the primary threat to the community. Fuel drainage operations for the vessel are set to begin soon. However, another critical issue is the MT Terranova, which sank off the coast of a neighboring town. The Terranova holds 1.5 million liters of industrial fuel, posing a significant risk of becoming the Philippines’ worst oil spill. Authorities had initially planned to start siphoning off the fuel this week but have now delayed the operation by at least two weeks. The new plan involves manufacturing custom metal caps to replace the bags currently collecting leaking oil.
Eight coastal towns have already declared a state of emergency, and in the province of Bataan, the Coast Guard is dealing with a third, smaller oil spill. Local residents are anxious about the pace of the cleanup.
“I would like it to be a little faster because, as days go by, the effects on the environment and our residents are increasing,” stated a local official from Bataan.
The impact of the oil spill extends beyond the coastal areas, reaching local markets where fish vendors and even fruit and vegetable sellers are feeling the strain. “People are afraid to buy fish, even those not caught from the sea. We haven’t been making much for days now. Because they’re afraid to buy fish, no one’s buying our fruits either,” lamented a market vendor.
While there is a consensus on the urgency of containing the spill, the Coast Guard cautions against rushing the process at the risk of a greater disaster. “It shouldn’t be at the expense of what could be an even bigger catastrophe,” a PCG spokesperson warned.
As authorities work to address the spills, the environmental and economic toll continues to mount, highlighting the urgent need for effective disaster response measures to protect both the ecosystem and the livelihoods of affected communities.