The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday that the capsized MV Hong Hai 189 has sunk in waters off Mariveles, Bataan, and released about 30 to 50 liters of oil and other mixed substances.
The MV Hong Hai, a Sierra Leone-registered dredger, sank 400 yards away from Sisiman Lighthouse in Mariveles at around 5:21 a.m. on Saturday, after colliding with the MT Petite Soeur, a a Marshall Island-flagged chemical and oil product tanker in the waters off Corregidor Island.
PCG Station Bataan and the Marine Environmental Protection Unit helped install oil spill booms and absorbent bags.
The PCG reported the collision of the two vessels on April 29. Three people died, two were still missing, while 15 others were rescued.
The MV Hong Hai 189 came from Botolan, Zambales and had 20 crew members on board. The MT Petite Soeur left the port of Mariveles, Bataan before the incident, the PCG said.
Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said they are mapping out plans to help local government units affected by the massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro last February.
DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. has recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that fishing areas be shared after meeting with local leaders and affected fishermen in the area.
“The DILG and BFAR will adopt a cluster approach to ensure that all affected fishers will have a place to go and congestion in one fishing area will be avoided,” Abalos said.
The DILG chief said affected municipalities of San Teodoro and Baco may do their fishing in the municipal waters of Paluan and Abra De Ilog in Occidental Mindoro. Tayabas Bay and Mindoro Strait are also proposed as fishing areas for the two affected municipalities.
On the other hand, those in Calapan City, Naujan, and Pola will also be allowed to go fishing in the municipal waters of Boac, Gasan in Marinduque, as well as Tayabas Bay.
Municipalities of Pinamalayan, Gloria, and Bansud can fish in the municipal waters of Concepcion in Romblon and portions of Mindoro Strait.
The last cluster, which includes fishermen of Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao, can go fishing in Tablas Strait and the municipal waters of San Jose and Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro.
Abalos said this sharing could go on until fish samples in the affected areas are okay.
Aside from identifying alternative fishing grounds, the DILG will also review policies on the management of municipal waters.
