‘BEWARE OF DIRTY OIL’: City gov’t warns public not to use, buy spilled palm oil

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By John Noel E. Herrera

The Iloilo City Government warned the public not to use spilled oil and be cautious of the cooking oil they buy.

This, after City Hall received reports that some individuals tried to sell and use the raw palm oil that spilled from a container van that fell on its side on Muelle Loney Street going to Arroyo Bridge in City Proper district on Sunday, Oct 23, 2022 in Iloilo City.

“Please be advised not to sell, buy or use the raw palm oil for cooking because it is contaminated and unfit for consumption,” Iloilo City Government said on its Facebook page.

“Gina-abisuhan ang publiko nga siguraduhon gid ang source kag kalidad sang cooking oil, kag magbakal lang sa accredited nga mga baligyaan,” it added.

Based on a report from the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRM), a container truck owned by S & P Trucking Services carrying two container vans “tipped over when attempting to drive uphill at Muelle Loney-Arroyo Bridge.”

“One van was estimated to contain 18 tons of palm oil and the other contained 16 tons of assorted goods as the said truck is en route to the shipyard owned by 2GO Shipping Lines.”

The Iloilo City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office also advised motorists yesterday to take alternate routes and be cautious as the road was slippery due to oil spillage.

The accident area will be until today, Oct 24, 2022.

The oil spill also flowed towards the Iloilo River and was estimated to affect 30 to 50 square meters of the river and 50 meters of the road in Muelle Loney along Arsenal-Arroyo streets.

The Philippine Coast Guard District Western Visayas has already installed 25 meters of oil spill boom near the drainage outlet to the Iloilo River and deployed absorbent pads.

2GO Shipping Lines, together with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and other concerned agencies also put up a caution line to block incoming traffic, and placed sand, sawdust, and additional rice hull to prevent the leaking oil from spreading further down the road.

2GO also towed the trailer truck “to give way for the Heavy Forklift operation.”

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) also reported that 11 motorcycles slipped in the area of the incident, which caused minor injuries to 19 individuals.

PSTMO and Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) also cordoned the area and ensured no local residents continued to take oil away from the container truck, gutters, and roads.