NextGen Day

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has developed and erected oil spill booms as part of its effort to limit the oil spill from the MT Princess Empress, which has impacted regions in the MIMAROPA and Western Visayas Regions. The provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan make up MIMAROPA.

The DENR said in a news release on Tuesday that the local organic and indigenous materials were used to make the oil spill booms.

“Booms are temporary floating barriers designed to limit maritime spills, protect sensitive wetlands, and assist in recovery,” the DENR noted.

It was also mentioned that putting the booms is guided by the trajectory map created by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI).

Professor Dr. Cesar Villanoy of the University of the Philippines-Diliman Marine Science Institute stated during his presentation at the Senate hearing by the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change that the UPMSI projected that the oil spill could reach northern Palawan mainland and threaten over 36,000 hectares of marine habitats.

The primary takeaway from this is that we must urgently halt the seepage from the sunken ship, according to Villanoy.

The DENR stated that the usage of makeshift spill booms is a workable preventative technique to guard against harm to marine habitats.

In order to stop the oil spill from harming the mangroves, coral reefs, and other marine life in Oriental Mindoro, the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) MIMAROPA, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the local government unit (LGU) has already put up temporary spill booms made of cogon and sawali there.

Coconut shingles, which have strong adsorption abilities, are also important components in the construction of spill booms. At Barangay Misong, Pola town, and in Barangays Aplaya in Poblacion and Barangay Anilao in Bongabong town, these are combined with nets and rice straws, respectively.

As a precaution against the spill, coastal municipalities that were unaffected by the oil spill “have begun constructing and installing spill booms two kilometers away from their shorelines,” according to the DENR.

At Cuyo town, Palawan, the Imalaguan Island Marine Protected Area (MPA) now has approximately 100-meter booms guarding its sanctuaries home to pelagic fish, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. Volunteers have also begun setting up spill booms at Roxas, Palawan, which has 13 MPAs spread throughout its 11 barangays.

In the meantime, cleanup efforts are being carried out at the Sitio Sabang shorelines in Barangay Tinogboc by the DENR-EMB Western Visayas in collaboration with the local governments of Caluya town, Antique, and PCG. To assist contain the oil spill and stop it from reaching the coast, this included creating and finishing a 1,363-meter improvised spill boom out of nets and coconut shingles.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, meanwhile, assures that they remain vigilant in protecting the country’s environment and natural resources, especially those in the MIMAROPA and Western Visayas regions, whose island provinces are home to hundreds of marine protected areas rich with marine biodiversity, coral cover quality and diversity, and fish composition that have significant value to communities.

Loyzaga said, “This is a rolling strategy that will adjust to the conditions on the ground as well as to the needs of our affected areas. We have planned out our routes forward which are continuing to evolve since we are assuming the worst will actually happen.

Save/Share this story with QR CODE

---

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement of any specific technologies or methodologies and financial advice or endorsement of any specific products or services.

📩 Need to get in touch?

Feel free to Email Us for comments, suggestions, reviews, or anything else.

---

We appreciate your reading. 😊Simple Ways To Say Thanks & Support Us:
1.) ❤️GIVE A TIP. Send a small donation thru Paypal😊❤️
Your DONATION will be used to fund and maintain NEXTGENDAY.com
Subscribers in the Philippines can make donations to mobile number 0917 906 3081, thru GCash.
3.) 🛒 BUY or SIGN UP to our AFFILIATE PARTNERS.
4.) 👍 Give this news article a THUMBS UP, and Leave a Comment (at Least Five Words).

---

AFFILIATE PARTNERS

World Class Nutritional Supplements - Buy Highest Quality Products, Purest Most Healthy Ingredients, Direct to your Door! Up to 90% OFF.
Join LiveGood Today - A company created to satisfy the world's most demanding leaders and entrepreneurs, with the best compensation plan today.

---