The Philippine Coast Guard continued oil spill containment and recovery operations Friday, Nov. 6, in the coastal waters of Barangay Ipag following the discovery of an oil leak in the area a day earlier.
According to the PCG’s initial report, approximately 25 liters of used oil spread across about 500 square meters of coastal waters in Sitio Naswe, Barangay Ipag, on Nov. 5.
The agency deployed additional containment equipment, absorbent pads and oil spill booms to collect the remaining oil and speed up recovery operations.
During cleanup operations on Thursday, authorities collected approximately 800 kilograms of oil-contaminated debris and used absorbent materials. The collected waste was placed in 40 sacks for temporary storage.
The PCG said the remaining oil had also begun undergoing natural weathering, a process that could gradually break down and disperse the substance through natural processes in the water.
Meanwhile, investigators are still determining the exact source and type of oil involved in the incident.
The agency said preliminary assessments indicated that the oil may have originated from washing activities. However, its precise origin and composition have yet to be established.
The PCG is coordinating with local authorities to contain the spill and limit its potential impact on surrounding waters and coastal communities.
Containment and recovery operations remain ongoing as authorities continue collecting the remaining oil and investigating the circumstances surrounding the leak.
The investigation is expected to help determine the source of the contamination and identify the type of oil that spread across the coastal waters of Mariveles.
