Task force formed to contain Oriental Mindoro oil spill

An inter-agency task force has been created to unify efforts in containing the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro following the sinking of motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress.

The task force, led by the Office of Civil Defense Mimaropa director Eugene Cabrera, will monitor developments and implement measures to contain the spill and conduct emergency response activities.

Member agencies include the MIMAROPA offices of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command, along with MIMAROPA local government units.

The PCG confirmed that the oil spill has reached the coastal waters of three areas in Caluya, Antique, approximately 70 nautical miles from the spillage site.

Around 600 residents in Caluya, Antique have been affected by the oil spill.

The PCG deployed oil spill booms and responders to Antique to prevent the spillage from spreading.

The MT Princess Empress contained 800,000 liters of industrial cargo fuel when it sank.

Weather conditions in Antique pose a challenge for containment efforts due to a gale warning.