Dr. Irene Rodriguez, an associate professor of the Unitversity of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, suggested the use of in-situ burning to resolve the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.
Rodriguez described in-situ burning or the controlled burning of oil as the most 'effective, efficient, and fastest' method to mitigate the damage caused by the incident.
"Kapag controlled burning kasi mas mabilis siyang matatanggal at hindi na tayo mag-worry na aabot itong oil sa ating coastal environment," Rodriguez said on Tuesday, March 14, during DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
Rodriguez explained that the process utilizes fire-proof booms to isolate the water with oil before burning it.
"Uulitin yung process na iyon. Paulit-ulit hanggang majority of the oil is removed and then yung hindi na kayang ipunin, ito yung pwede natin i-control using booms and skimmers," Rodriguez said.
The professor also allayed concerns that the process will damage the ecosystem in the area.
"Sufficiently kayang i-manage kahit may heat yung taas. Saka yung volume ng oil ay i-control na kung ano lang yung safe to be burned under controlled conditions," Rodriguez assured.
However, Rodriguez admitted that in-situ burning could violate Republic Act 8749, also known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, which regulates air pollutants in the country.
"Unfortunately, ito ay pertaining to some regulation. Meron tayong Clean Air Act. Hindi ko alam kung paano yung process, baka magkaroon ng exemption if that is possible," Rodriguez said.
M/T Princess Empress, which carried 800,000 liters of industrial oil, sank on February 28 near the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro in the MIMAROPA region.
The Philippine Coast Guard said that spillage of industrial oil has affected the communities near the area, and up Caluya Island, Antique in Western Visayas region.
