LIMAY, Bataan: Vice Mayor Richie Jason David of this town where MT Terra Nova carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial oil still remain submerged more than 30 meters below Manila Bay on Friday said that there was still no full blast siphoning of oil from the vessel that sank last July 25.
He said that after the simulation of siphoning was conducted August 7, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Salvor company were more on the preparation of plans and guarding for any oil leak.
He said that they were updated of the ongoing activities nightly. “In fairness naman nagpapasalamat tayo and so far kita niyo naman na wala namang super laking oil spill na galing sa Terra Nova. Safe pa naman as of now pero siyempre nandoon pa rin ang pangamba natin.”
“Hopefully, may hinihintay daw na gamit na suction device na mas efficient but August 7 pa ang simulation na bale 11 days na ngayon. Hindi naman sa nagco-complain tayo pero siyempre naghihintay tayo, nag-aalala,” David said.
The vice mayor said that latest analysis showed that a certain number of liters of oil has to be siphoned off for the vessel to attain buoyancy or lighter and to be towed safely to the nearest port.
Asked if the feared oil spill is under control, David replied “Under control in terms of doon sa pagpigil pero hangga’t hindi pa natin naiaangat, hindi pa tapos siyempre bawat oras, bawat araw tayo bilang taga-Limay, taga- Bataan iniisip natin ‘yun.”
“But technically, wala akong expertise doon sa trabaho ng marina o sa dagat. Wala akong karapatan na magdemand pero bilang taga-Bataan tayo, taga- Limay lalo na, eh may karapatan tayo na magdemand pero syempre gusto naman natin na hindi tayo perwisyo o makadagdag pa sa burden nila o sa mabigat na operations,” he added.
David said it would be much better to help than to complain. He said that they have assigned people to assist even in the simplest way like the bantay -dagat, personnel from the municipal disaster office.
He said that in addition, the Salvor company reportedly needs an additional strong suction equipment that still has to be ordered from abroad while in close watch for any oil leak. He said he was informed that siphoning will be quick but they are still worried because the vessel is still under the sea floor.
“Binabantayan ‘yong 24 valves, minsan daw kasi medyo nagkakaroon ng kaunting leak kaya isasarado nila kaagad, ire-reinforce nila kaya round the clock din ang trabaho,” said the vice mayor who is son of Limay Mayor Nelson David.
David thanked Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Bong Go, DSWD, DOLE, provincial government and other agencies for sharing relief goods not only to fishermen but for those selling fish and members of tricycle associations and public transport.
He said that 3,600 registered fishermen in the town were the first recipients of relief goods for already three times, Bataan having been declared under state of calamity for two times – due to Carina and habagat and oil spill.
“May nakaamba ring cash assistance na galing sa national government dahil hindi lang pagkain ang kailangan ng mga tao kundi pambili rin ng gamit sa eskwela ng mga anak,” David said. (30)
