Darwin Chan, CPDI spokesman and Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela “Gila” Garcia, however, made the assurance that the contaminated rain waters caused by the oil leak were contained and extracted.
The mayor said there was no flood in Barangay San Ramon where the oil leak was discovered.
“Usual na tubig ulan lamang na bumagsak sa sementadong kalsada ang hinaluan ng oil leak pero na-extract din agad ang kumalat na langis at naglagay kaagad ng containment materials ang Clark Pipeline,” Garcia said.
“Assessment is being made to ascertain if the leakage came from the pipeline or mere oil left from the soil in the last oil leak,” she added.
Unleaded gasoline leaked last February 4, 2016 from the pipeline along the drainage canal, also in San Ramon, a few meters away from the present oil leak adjacent to the PTT Gas station.
To protect the residents nearby, Garcia said the municipal health offi ce conducted house-to-house interviews. “Tinanong ang mga residente kung may kakaiba silang nararamdaman sa amoy ng gasolina at kung may nararamdaman ay ipaalam sa amin upang mabigyan ng karampatang medical attention, she said.
The mayor said that she will require Clark Pipeline to get soil samples some meters away from the oil leak for laboratory test.
“As of the moment, wala nang nakikitang contaminated water. As soon as we were informed of the oil leak, agad kaming kumilos at nag-extract ng contaminated water,” the CPDI spokesman noted.
He said that workers retrieved 10,000 liters or 10 cubic meters of contaminated water with less than fi ve percent fuel, composed of mixture of unleaded gasoline and diesel.
“Walang delikado at kung may natitira pang contaminated water, kakaunti na lamang ito at patuloy ang aming monitoring at clean-up,” Chan said.
Envirocare workers in protective suit were seen straining oil residues from an open manhole.
Chan said they will work 24/7 until the problem is solved. He said that an offi cial of the Department of Public Works and Highways came Sunday and they have agreed to proceed with the investigation to pinpoint the problem.
“Hindi pa namin masabi kung saan talaga ang leak. Dito ang pinakamababang portion ng drainage kaya gusto naming ma-expose ang drainage para makitang mabuti kung nasaan ang problema,” he said.
He was referring to the portion of the drainage canal fenced with a blue canvass and a big truck loaded with oil drums where contaminated water are placed.
“Hindi pa napapalitaw ang tubo kasi na sa ibabaw ang DPWH drainage,” Chan continued.
Heavy equipment to be used in excavation were on standby in the area.
Aside from the present and the February 2016 oil leak in San Ramon, oil also leaked last May 2016 in Luakan, another village of Dinalupihan.
CPDI took over the operation of the pipeline left by the Americans in 1992 that runs from Subic to Clark Airbase in Angeles City with a span of 94 kilometers, passing through Dinalupihan and some towns in Pampanga.
The pipeline reportedly was constructed by the former American Naval Base in 1966.
