DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos has said an inter-agency task force was formed to consolidate necessary containment efforts and mitigation measures to address the oil spill in Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan.
This, as he led meeting of the joint National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) on Monday in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
According to Abalos, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed all concerned national government agencies to provide the necessary support for the affected LGUs using the lessons from the experiences of Oriental Mindoro oil spill.
“Tutulong po ang lahat, kaya andito ang national government agencies upang paghandaan natin ito paano i-contain itong langis na ito. Ang dapat nating paghandaan, gaano karami ang langis na ito? Ito ba ay masa-salvage, ilang litro ang naiwan nito,” Abalos said.
The task force is composed of DILG; Office of Civil Defense (OCD); Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Science and Technology and other National Government Agencies.
Also with them are the provincial government units of Bataan and Bulacan; local government units of Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pasay, Manila, Navotas, and Cavite.
Motor Tanker Terranova owned by Shogun Ships Company Incorporated capsized on Thursday carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil around 3.6 nautical miles or around seven kilometers east of Lamao Point.
“Let us all be prepared for the worst, dapat handa po tayo at maisama natin sa pag-factor ang bagyo, current, at etc,” Abalos said.
Abalos assured that the inter-agency task force will move forward with concrete action and will provide regular reports to keep everyone informed about the status of oil spill cleanup and containment.
Original Article At: https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/Abalos-Inter-agency-task-force-formed-to-address-Bataan-oil-spill/NC-2024-1105