The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is investigating a suspected deliberate oil dumping incident after a spill affected a secluded coastal area in Mariveles, Bataan.
The incident was discovered at around 9:30 a.m. on November 5 at Sitio Naswe in Barangay Ipag, impacting approximately 500 square meters of coastal waters.
According to PCG Spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, initial findings indicate the pollutant is used oil likely originating from a vessel or from engine washing.
“Our investigation is ongoing. However, based on the initial information we gathered and our assessment of the oil recovered during operations, it appears to be used oil. It may have come from a vessel or from the washing of a vessel’s engine. Based on our initial investigation, it may have been intentionally dumped in the area,” Cayabyab said.
Authorities are currently inspecting vessels operating in the vicinity to track down the source and identify those responsible.
Following the discovery, the PCG coordinated with the Bataan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Mariveles Municipal Agriculture Office, and local barangay officials to contain the spill. Response teams deployed seven absorbent booms, 2,200 absorbent pads, and containment barriers along the shoreline.
By the evening of November 5, teams had collected 800 kilograms of oil-contaminated debris and used absorbent materials, packing them into 40 sacks for secure temporary storage. Recovery efforts reached about 70 percent by Thursday, leaving the remaining 30 percent for ongoing cleanup.
Cayabyab noted that the situation is manageable due to the nature of the substance.
“The good thing is that this oil disperses easily because it is non-persistent. It can evaporate naturally. During the ongoing operations, we noticed that the oil on the rocks also disappears when hit by waves,” she stated.
The PCG continued deploying booms and absorbent materials on Friday to clear the remaining slicks. Because the spill occurred in an isolated cove with no nearby residential communities, its immediate human impact has been limited.
However, the agency advised local fishermen and residents to stay away from the affected waters while monitoring and cleanup activities continue through Saturday, November 7.