TANZA, Cavite. An oil spill from a marine tanker that capsized off Manila Bay has reached the shores of the nearby fishing town of Tanza, endangering the health and livelihood of local fishermen. The spill has prompted immediate cleanup efforts to mitigate the impact on the community.
The MT Terra Nova sank in rough seas off Limay in Bataan province on Thursday while carrying 1.5 million liters of industrial fuel. Tragically, one of the 17 crew members lost their life in the incident.
Fishermen in Tanza, located in Cavite province south of Manila, are grappling with the consequences of the spill. The oil slick that has washed ashore has been accompanied by a strong foul odor, deeply affecting the local fishing industry. “This oil spill will have a big effect on us fishermen because we rely on the sea and it has been affected by the oil,” said Renan Honsana, 48. He added, “We would need to sell our catches very cheap because people would not buy it. Where can we get our livelihood except to this sea?”
The Philippine Coast Guard has reported that it has successfully sealed the leak from the capsized tanker and is beginning to siphon off the remaining oil to prevent further leakage. Aerial surveys of the affected waters in Limay, Bulacan, and Cavite have shown “minimal oil sheen.”
Officials are investigating whether the sinking of the MT Terra Nova was linked to Typhoon Gaemi, which has caused severe monsoon rains in the Philippines, leading to floods and landslides that have claimed at least 36 lives.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
