The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to seek the help of the Japanese government to contain the oil spill in the waters off Naujan in Oriental Mindoro.
"Siguro ay hihingi kami ng tulong sa Japanese government dahil nabanggit sa akin na malaki ang kakayahan ng Japanese government na matulungan tayo para hindi masyadong kumalat ang oil spill na ito sa ating islands sa Mindoro," Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said on Saturday, March 4, during a media forum.
The agency will start coordinating with the Japanese embassy and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Monday.
Bautista also said that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently reaching out to relevant agencies.
"Yung Coast Guard nandoon. Tinitignan nila kung papaano pigilan pa ‘yong pagkalat ng langis. Sana ay huwag umabot sa Verde Island dahil ito ay protected area natin," he added,
The oil spill was from the sunken MT Princess Empress which carries 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.
In the latest update of PCG, it has already reached Caluya, Antique with three barangays being monitored and undertaking a shoreline clean-up.
As of March 4, a total of eight drums of 'oily waste' has been collected in the seashore of Sitio Sabang, Barangay Tinogboc, Caluya, Antique.
