A peek into the update on Agno’s coal spill

By Eva C. Visperas

NICK Melecio, an acknowledged environmentalist and a consultant of many (not sure of exact number) companies, offices on environmental matters, went on air at Orly Navarro’s Super Radyo program Friday morning.

 

I had to cut short whatever I was doing and rushed to Lingayen where the meeting was to be held in 15 minutes after he went on air.

 

The following transpired.

 

The provincial government here gave the owner of the barge that spilled coal in sitio Talisay, barangay Macaboboni, Agno town 10 days to remove the vessel or face a legal action.

 

In a meeting yesterday presided by lawyer Virgilio Solis, provincial administrator, upon the instruction of Gov. Victor Agbayani after learning the serious effects of the coal spill, Solis   instructed Eudes Bautista, barge crew representing the management of the   barge named Eisner that ran aground in Agno on Dec. 18, 2005 to relay the order, copy of which was to be transmitted yesterday immediately after the meeting.

 

The 90-meter long Eisner, owned by Asian Shipping Line based in Dagat-dagatan, Malabon hired by Philippine National Oil Company to deliver 4,500 metric tons of coal to PNOC Coal terminal at Poro Point, San Fernando City, La Union. The barge came from Semirara, Antique and ran aground here due to high waves caused by a storm.

 

Solis said the primary complainant here is the municipality of Agno, with the provincial legal office willing to help in the legal aspect. The barge is docked approximately 110 meters offshore.

 

The people whose health is also affected can file a class suit against the company, Solis added.          

 

“If in 10 days you have not yet removed the barge, then we will be the one to remove it and auction sale your barge because we will be hiring agencies to pull that out,” Solis said.

 

He said they already consider it (barge) “an abandoned derelict object destroying the seas of Agno”.

 

Based on the findings of  DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau which was presented during the meeting by Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Celso Salazar, it said that “The coal spilled along the shorelines were accumulated within the cove. The coals have varying irregular sizes approximately one centimeter, one inch to four inches in diameter. It is scattered within an estimated length of 80 meters with varying width of five meters to 20 meters along the cove shoreline. It was noted that the sandy shorelines outside the cove were not affected. The spilled coal is estimated at about 300 cubic meters”.

 

While the results of water quality monitoring showed negative traces of oil and grease and total suspended solids (the precipitate is colorless in physical appearance), he said the coal spillages accumulated along the shorelines of the cove had apparently disturbed the marine habitat.

 

The coal spillages also affected the aesthetic view of the coastal areas, a violation pursuant to DENR Administrative Order No. 34.

 

Lydia Colobong, a known environmentalist from Agno and also a radio announcer of dzWM based in Alaminos City, said there are residents who already had contracted skin diseases as a result of the coal spill.

 

Vice Mayor Wilson Rosete said they also wanted the barge removed immediately. He claimed that fishermen continue fishing in the area and also engage in farming.

 

Guillermo Neypes, municipal consultant of Agno added that they had talks with the barge owners who promised to pay damages caused by the coal spill.

 

A separate probe will be conducted by the provincial board on Wednesday regarding this matter.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments