ILOILO City – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) is not discounting the possibility that the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro could reach Iloilo’s waters.
The oil spill has already spread to Caluya, Antique.
The CDRRMO is keeping track of the direction of the oil spill in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“Indi lang ‘ta magkumpiyansa. We have to keep track sa direction sang water current. We have to work closely with the coastguard para mabal-an ta,” said CDRRMO head Donna Magno.
Iloilo City is no stranger to oil spills. It had one three years ago. On July 3, 2020 a power barge stationed in the waters off Barangay Bo. Obrero in La Paz district exploded, resulting to an oil spill.
The oil spill – over 200 thousand liters of bunker fuel – affected several Iloilo City barangays, as well as coastal areas of Iloilo province and Guimaras Island.
Booms were used to contain the oil spill.
For the Oriental Mindoro oil spill that has now reached Antique, Magno said a technical working group (TWG) will conduct a pre-disaster risk assessment for Iloilo City.
It will be composed of University of the Philippines professors, marine biologists, chemists as well as the CDRRMO and City Environment and Natural Resources Office. It will also coordinate with other concerned government agencies like the Office of the Civil Defense.
“The study it will tell us kung ano ang mga possible scenarios kag para kita diri sa Iloilo City and province and Guimaras can do anticipatory actions para indi kita matam-an sang oil spill,” Magno said.
When it comes to crisis management they are looking at the worst-case scenario, she added.
Meanwhile, the city government sent protective gears to the local government unit of Caluya and PCG to augment their oil spill recovery operations. These included personal protective equipment kits, protective masks, disposable gloves, hazmat, face shields, and goggles./PN
