PH gov't orders immediate assessment, containment of Mariveles oil spill

The government has ordered an immediate assessment and containment of an oil spill in Mariveles, Bataan, after used oil contaminated coastal waters in the area on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna directed regional DENR offices and environmental authorities to coordinate with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local governments to manage the spill and prevent further environmental damage.

According to a Philippine News Agency report, around 25 liters of used oil spread across approximately 500 square meters of coastal waters near Sitio Naswe in Barangay Ipag.

Authorities said initial findings suggest the oil may have come from vessel-cleaning activities, although the exact source remains under investigation.

Response teams deployed absorbent booms and pads to contain the spill and had recovered about 800 kilograms of oil-contaminated waste and cleanup materials by Thursday evening.

Containment and recovery efforts continued on Friday, with additional equipment placed in affected areas to collect remaining traces of oil.

While part of the residual oil has started to dissipate through natural weathering, authorities are continuing cleanup operations and working to identify those responsible for the incident. Paraluman News with a report from Philippine News Agency