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Improvised spill booms made from cogon grass and coconut
materials were helping to restrict oil leaking from MT Princess
Empress, the Philippine-flagged tanker that encountered engine
trouble in rough seas on Feb. 28 before it went down off central
Oriental Mindoro province, the ministry said in a statement.
The vessel was carrying about 800,000 litres (211,338 gallons)
of industrial fuel oil when it sank, according to the coast
guard.
"The use of improvised spill booms is a feasible precautionary
measure to prevent damage to marine environments," it said,
adding that the materials are readily accessible to communities
at risk.
Marine scientists at the University of the Philippines have
warned that the oil spill could also hit the Verde Island
Passage, a body of water between Batangas and Mindoro provinces
south of Manila, which they said has the highest concentration
of marine biodiversity on the planet.
The spill could also reach the northern part of Palawan island,
home to some of the country's white-sand beaches.
Resorts in Oriental Mindoro, also known for world-class beaches
and dive spots, have already been reeling from the impact of the
oil spill, as tourists cancel reservations during what is
supposed to be peak season.
A Philippine senate panel on Tuesday opened an inquiry into the
incident, with legislators demanding the tanker owner, RDC
Reield Marine Services Inc, to participate in the cleanup drive
and extend immediate financial aid to affected communities.
They also raised concerns about whether the tanker owner could
file insurance claims despite questions about the ship's permit
to operate.
(Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz, Editing by Louise Heavens)
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