INTEGRATED energy firm Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have been working with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Health (DOH), local government units, and impacted residents in Semirara Island since March 4 to clean up and contain the oil spill from the sunken tanker in Oriental Mindoro.
The hazardous waste first reached the shores of Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique afternoon of March 3.
The oil spill currently covers almost three kilometers of shoreline stretching from Sitio Sigayan and Sitio Toong of Barangay Semirara and Sitio Sabang of Barangay Tinogboc, affecting 341 households who mainly rely on fishing for livelihood.
Responders from the multi-stakeholder group have so far recovered 4,590 kilograms of oil-contaminated wastes.
To date, the SMPC Emergency Response Team has devoted over 4,700 man-hours to the oil spill cleanup. The company has also provided the responders from PCG and DOH with accommodation, transport services, and personal protective equipment (PPE), including hazardous material (hazmat) suits, N95 masks, boots, and safety gloves.
An oil spill containment boom has also been installed one kilometer from the shoreline to protect the reseeded giant clams in Semirara Marine Hatchery in Tabunan.
In collaboration with the local barangay health workers, the SMPC Infirmary has deployed a medical team to the cleanup sites to serve as on-site medics and to conduct a community health survey among the impacted households.
SMPC relief operations are ongoing, benefitting all 341 affected households who were given food packs with rice, canned goods, noodles and produce from the companyās agro model farm and poultry model farm projects./PN
