By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Oil that spilled from the depot of Petron Corporation to coastline of Brgy. Culasi here was already contained by the oil firm’s personnel.
No more oil slick or sheen was found when Sanggunian Panlungsod (SP) members led by Moreno Gonzaga visited the area Wednesday afternoon.
The oil spilled from a barge that arrived at the depot recently.
Despite the absence of slick or sheen, residents could still smell fuel fumes in the area.
Earlier, several Culasi residents complained of the oil spill, fearing that it might affect their health, especially the children who usually play on the beach.
Some residents told the councilors that they noticed oil in the drainage canal.
The councilors are contemplating an investigation through the committee on environment to look into the cause of the oil spill and provide solutions to prevent the same from happening.
Gonzaga confronted the depot manager regarding the proper procedures in dispatching crude oil.
The manager said that they followed proper procedures.
Meanwhile, Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Nonoy Contreras personally visited the Petron depot after receiving the report.
With the governor was Atty. Emilyn Arboleda-Depon of the Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO) and Marlon Bonite, Supervising Environmental Management Specialist of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-Capiz).
Engr. Lester Ervin Legaspi, Terminal Manager of Petron-Roxas, told the governor that they only discharge water in the drainage.
But because of the garbage that clogged the drainage, the standing water emitted foul odor which affected some residents.
It was agreed that Petron, the provincial government, and the DENR will find solutions to the problem.
The provincial government will monitor and test the water flowing from the depot to the drainage.
