(Photo courtesy of PNA)
MARIVELES, Bataan — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has contained an oil spill in the coastal waters of Mariveles, Bataan, recovering approximately 800 kilograms of oil-contaminated debris as cleanup operations continue.
The incident involved an estimated 25 liters of used oil that spread across approximately 500 square meters of coastal waters in Sitio Naswe, Barangay Ipag, on Thursday.
In a statement Friday, the PCG said response teams had deployed additional equipment, including absorbent pads and containment booms, to prevent the remaining oil slicks from spreading and facilitate their recovery.
The agency reported that the remaining oil had begun undergoing natural weathering, a process that gradually breaks down and disperses oil in the marine environment.
“The PCG continues to assess the affected coastal area and coordinate with local authorities to minimize the environmental impact of the incident,” the agency said.
Cleanup and containment operations
The PCG received the oil spill report at approximately 9:30 a.m. Thursday and immediately initiated an assessment of the affected coastal area.
Initial findings suggested that the oil originated from washing activities, although authorities have yet to determine its exact source and composition.
Working with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Coast Guard deployed seven absorbent booms and 2,200 absorbent pads to support containment and recovery operations.
At around 3:30 p.m., personnel from the PCG, the Mariveles Municipal Agriculture Office and Barangay Ipag installed containment booms along the affected shoreline to prevent the oil from spreading to nearby waters.
The response team subsequently recovered approximately 800 kilograms of oil-contaminated debris and used absorbent materials.
The collected waste was packed into 40 sacks and transferred to a secure temporary storage area pending appropriate disposal.
Environmental monitoring continues
The Coast Guard said cleanup efforts remain underway, with additional absorbent materials being positioned to collect residual oil slicks.
Authorities are also monitoring the affected shoreline to assess possible environmental impacts and determine whether further intervention is necessary.
The PCG emphasized that coordination with local government agencies will continue to ensure the proper management of recovered waste and prevent additional contamination.
Investigators are working to establish the source of the discharged oil and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
