The oil spill from the capsized tanker in Mindoro has now reached the waters off Verde Island in Batangas, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Monday.
"We received information na mayroon ng mga sighting ng oil spill sa Verde Island (We received information that there has been sighting of the oil spill in Verde Island)," PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said in a chance interview with reporters.
Abu said they immediately send their choppers to monitor the current situation on the Verde Islands shoreline as well as other coastal areas of Batangas, such as San Juan, Tingloy, Lobo, and Calatagan.
The confirmation comes days after the PCG said that oil slicks from the sunken tanker were reportedly spotted at the coasts of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, along the Verde Island Passage (VIP).
Abu said the PCG is not discounting the possibility of the further spread of the oil spill in other areas, adding that it is beyond their control.
"Ang mahalaga handa tayo in coordination with the community and of course, with other government agencies," he noted.
PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu sa posibilidad na pagkalat ng oil spill sa ibang lugar: We cannot discount that possibility. Sabi nga natin this is beyond our control. Ang mahalaga handa tayo | @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/f69x0sTMYi
— Christian Maño (@xtian_mano) March 20, 2023
The UP Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) has stressed the need to control the spread of the oil spill before the end of the Amihan season.
"Otherwise more critical biodiversity areas along the Verde Island Passage may be affected," it said in its latest bulletin update on Sunday.
MT Princess Empress sank on February 28 off Naujan while carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel.
