Japan expert team arrives to help Oriental Mindoro oil spill response

A Japanese expert team composed of oil removal and control specialists from the Japan Coast Guard arrived in the Philippines to assist in addressing the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.

The team will head to the oil spill site to conduct an assessment of the damage with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday.

The sunken MT Princess Empress, which sank on February 28 off Naujan town, is estimated to be leaking five to 10 liters of oil per hour, though its actual condition remains uncertain due to its depth.

The UP Marine Science Institute estimates that approximately 20,000 hectares of coral reefs, 9,900 hectares of mangroves, and 6,000 hectares of seagrass may be impacted.

The oil slick is projected to reach the northern Palawan mainland within a week and has already affected coastal areas of at least eight towns of Oriental Mindoro.

Discussions are ongoing to contain the spread of the oil spill, including mapping out strategies for the sunken oil tanker, and a massive shoreline clean-up is scheduled.