Divers continue to seal 24 valves in sunken oil tanker

MANILA: Divers working on the sunken Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova have continued to work on sealing 24 valves that were found to be leaking oil. In a situation update on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the operation was done by divers of Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. - the contracted salvor for the sunken tanker. The PCG deployed BRP Boracay and BRP Malawi to help Bataan Governor Jose Enrique 'Joet' Garcia III and other government officials in an after-sea survey. The survey found minimal oil sheens/oil slicks in the vicinity waters of Bataan. On the other hand, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) conducted water sampling activities at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Cavite, Bulacan, and Bataan to check for oil levels in these coastal waters. Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla declared a state of calamity over eight Cavite towns to unlock additional funds for disaster response and to impose a price freeze on basic goods. The areas under a state of calamit y are Kawit, Rosario, Naic, Ternate, Bacoor, Noveleta, Tanza, and Maragondon. A 'no-catch zone' for all shellfish - including tahong, alimasag, alimango, and halaan - in Cavite is also in effect. On Tuesday, the PCG said 'very minimal to unnoticeable' oil sheen has been observed in the shorelines of Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite following the sinking of MT Terra Nova off the coast of Limay, Bataan Thursday last week. Since the incident, government agencies and partners in the private sector have continued disaster mitigation such as the deployment of oil spill booms and the use of water cannons to agitate oil sheens. Source: Philippines News Agency