Officials to examine oil spill in arevalo

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

ILOILO CITY Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Donna Magno said they will seek the help of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and oil companies in examining the alleged oil spill in Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo on Saturday.

“Ipa-check kag ipaexamine naton ang sample sa DOST and sa mga oil companies para mabal-an naton if oil spill gidman ni,” he said.

Magno said they responded together with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Iloilo after receiving reports from barangay officials of Brgy Sto. Niño Sur of the alleged oil spill on their shorelines at around 10 a.m.

The alleged oil was odorless and was not considered a health hazard, according to Magno.

“Pag-check sang CENRO, daw indi siya oil spill. It looked like chemicals nga ginhulog sang isa ka cargo vessel but indi pa sure that is why we want to examine it,” she said.

Magno said that the PCG also received a report of a similar incident in Oton.

Right after the alleged spill, a cleanup was organized on Sunday by residents of Brgy. Sto. Niño Sur, CDRRMO, Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), and other volunteer groups.

Angelie Buentecillo of CDRRMO said that they were able to gather around seven to eight sacks of tar balls in the coastlines of Sto. Niño Sur.