Aerial view of the expanse of the oil slick caused by MT Princess Empress sinking on Feb 28, 2023

BATANGAS City – Nobody is talking about this anymore but the good news is the oil slick emanating from the sunken oil tanker MT Princess Empress is, no more.

This was confirmed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Batangas in a recent report to Governor DoDo Mandanas as they made an update of sort on the oil spill from the ill-fated oil tanker that sunk in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, 

Measures taken by their agency were also mentioned in the report.

Aside from Batangas City, six other local government units in the province of Batangas namely Mabini, Bauan, Lobo, San Luis, San Pascual and Tingloy suffered from the oil spill. 

But during a meeting at the Batangas Capitol, PCG Batangas Commander Captain Victorino Acosta IV revealed that “there is no longer any remaining oil spill, especially in the seven barangays of Isla Verde Island in Batangas City and the town of Tingloy.”

Acosta also emphasized that the immediate and collective collaboration of various agencies and the private sector to address the spread of oil that could harm the environment and marine biodiversity of the province was greatly commendable.

Provincial Administrator Wilfredo Racelis, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Head Dr. Amor Calayan, Batangas City DRRMO Chief Rod De la Roca, attended the important meeting along with representatives from various offices of the Batangas Provincial Government.

In the said meeting, it was agreed upon to conduct a final survey, ocular inspection, and water quality sampling to officially declare the conclusion and removal of the oil spill response.

Governor Mandanas promptly recommended expressing gratitude and recognition to all the colleagues from the provincial government and PCG Batangas for their response to this maritime incident.

Consequently, the final survey and inspection were conducted to officially close this issue.

The aforementioned oil spill affected the seas of Antique, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Batangas. 

Crewed by at least 20 people, the oil tanker that caused the oil spill is owned by RDC Reield Marine Services.

It was on its way to Iloilo City to transport 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil from SL Gas Harbor Terminal in Limay, Bataan when it sank on February 28, 2023. 

According to an energy sector source, industrial fuel oil, also known as “black oil”, is “highly toxic to the environment.” 

The Tablas Strait, where the oil spill occurred, is a waterway between the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Panay, and Tablas that serves as a major shipping route in the Philippines. 

The strait and its adjacent waterbodies, including the Verde Island Passage, are one of the most biodiverse in the country. (Jr. Amigo/ai/mnm)

The MT Princess Empress as it lies in the deep