Scattered oil spills were detected along the coastal areas of two barangays in Pola, Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday morning, raising concerns about the region’s marine ecosystem and local livelihoods.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Oriental Mindoro’s Environmental Protection Unit conducted a joint coastal assessment, revealing traces of oil spill in Barangay Buhay na Tubig and Barangay Bacawan at approximately 7 a.m. local time.

In Barangay Buhay na Tubig, the affected area stretched 650 meters along the coastline, particularly impacting Sitio Proper I, Sitio Proper II, and Sitio Batalan Ibaba. Barangay Bacawan saw contamination across 250 meters of shoreline, with 100 meters affected in Sitio Proper, 100 meters in Sitio Recodo, and 50 meters in Sitio Munting Buhangin.

MindoroToday.tv team on Wednesday (June 26, 2024) went to the village and inspected the coastline in Barangay Bacawan, confirming that traces of oil spill are still visible in the area.

Local residents reported a strong odor of oil emanating from the sea. Authorities have already collected three sacks of oil-contaminated debris.

This incident comes on the heels of a major oil spill that occurred in the same region earlier this year.

On February 28, the MT Princess Empress, carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, sank off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. That spill affected over 77 municipalities across four provinces, devastating marine ecosystems and local fishing communities.

The earlier disaster prompted a massive cleanup operation and reignited debates about maritime safety and environmental protection in the country. The government faced criticism for its initial response and the long-term impact on the region’s biodiversity and economy is still being assessed.

Capt. Airland Lapitan of the PCG stated that samples of the oil have been collected for laboratory analysis to determine its origin.

“We’re investigating multiple angles, including the possibility of a ship discharging oil while passing through the area or an accidental spill,” Lapitan said.

The PCG has ruled out the sunken MT Princess Empress as the source of this new spill, noting that the tanker has long been emptied of its oil cargo.

The latest incident underscores the ongoing environmental challenges faced by coastal communities in the Philippines and raises questions about the effectiveness of measures implemented following the February disaster to prevent future spills.

Environmental groups are calling for stricter regulations on maritime traffic in the area and enhanced monitoring capabilities to quickly identify and respond to potential spills.

As cleanup efforts commence, local officials are bracing for potential impacts on tourism and fishing, two key economic drivers in the region that were just beginning to recover from the previous spill’s aftermath.

PCG has stated that further updates will be provided as the laboratory analysis of the oil samples is completed and the investigation progresses. (with a report from ABS-CBN)