President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. created an inter-agency task force on Saturday to quickly address the possible effects of the oil spill from the M/T Terra Nova that sank off the coast of Limay, Bataan.

The task force will be led by the Office of the Civil Defense with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as members.

The Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) were also included in the task force.

Marcos ordered the DENR, in coordination with the DOH, to conduct the necessary water and air quality tests, while the health department was ordered to check on the health and medical condition of residents.

The PCG will evaluate the condition of the sunken motor tanker while the DILG will coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) for response.

Meanwhile, the DOLE will implement livelihood programs for affected residents while the DSWD was instructed to provide aid.

The task force was directed to coordinate with Oriental Mindoro Governor Bonz Dolor to get his inputs on his province’s successful response to an oil spill last year.

Tapping the non-government organizations is also needed to address the problem, Marcos said.

During the situation briefing in Malolos, Bulacan, PCG Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan told Marcos that the oil seen spilling from the ship is from the fuel tank and not yet the cargo.

The vessel was en route to Iloilo province carrying 1.4 million liters (370,000 gallons) of industrial fuel when it sank off Lamao Point on Thursday.

“Buo pa. Wala pang signs na nag-break ang barko (It’s still intact. There’s no sign that the ship has split),” he told Marcos.

Sighted in Pamarawan

In the same briefing, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando shared a report that a flow of oil has been sighted in Pamarawan, Bulacan.

“Mayroon na silang nakikita na. Kanina lang ni-report ng barangay captain na may nakikita na silang oil doon (They reported that they saw oil floating there. It was reported by the barangay captain),” he said.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said her agency was verifying the report.

In addition, the DENR will also provide staff to help train volunteers in Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan to create organic spill booms that will help contain oil slick.

“Let’s be prepared already for the time that we will have to deploy them. Actually, we should be deploying them already,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the DOLE can use its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) emergency employment program to deploy affected residents in cleanup operations.

The DSWD, on the other hand, was tasked to ensure the protection of the coastal communities and look after public welfare.

“The immediate one is really the protection from the oil spill. Iyon ang unahin natin (That is what we should focus on). Standby na ang TUPAD, standby na ang DSWD (TUPAD and DSWD should be on standby) for whatever cash transfers we are going to be making, and DENR should continue with their sampling and modeling so that we can be proactive,” Marcos said.

Working with UP

The DENR is working closely with the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute on the direction and the possible extent of damage that the oil spill could cause.

“So, currently po we are also coordinating na with UP Marine Science Institute. Sila po iyong aming (It is our) partner in terms of being able to project iyong extent po ng (of the) oil spill, kung saang direksiyon, kung ano iyong characteristic, ano iyong content ng oil na nandoon, iyong mga ganiyan (the direction, characteristics, the content of the oil there),” DENR Assistant Secretary Noralyn Uy said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

The partnership, she said, would also provide them with necessary information about the ship and its contents. (PNA)