INAANTABAYANAN na ngayon ang mobilisasyon ng United States Coast Guard at kanilang mga air assets para tumulong sa isinagawang cleanup operations kaugnay sa nagaganap ‘massive oil spill’ sa Mindoro.
Inihayag ni Department of National Defense Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. na paparating na ang tulong mula sa United States.
Sa kanyang ulat na isinumite kay President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. , paparating na ngayon ang malaking puwersa ng US Coast Guard at isang C-5, na ‘US Air Force’s largest and strategic airlifter.’
“We are looking forward to the arrival of the entire US Coast Guard contingent for the additional technical support in our disaster response operations,” ani Galvez.
“Although one US C-17 with equipment (60K loader) already arrived this morning (Linggo) and is now at Subic Air Base, another C-5 is expected to arrive tomorrow (Monday) ,” ayon kay Senior Undersecretary Galvez, Defense Officer in Charge .
Si Galvez, na siya ring pinuno ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), kasama si Office of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno at Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) chief Admiral Artemio Abu at iba pang Armed Forces and local government officials, ay nagsagawa ng aerial inspection para makita ang lawak ng pinsalang dulot ng oil spill sa mga apektadong lugar.
“We will immediately employ these assets and integrate in our response operations. In addition, we continue to closely monitor the ROV’s (remotely-operated vehicle) operations for significant updates and to further determine the extent of the oil spill,” ani Galvez.
Kinilala niya ang presensya ng US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) na malaki na ang naitutulong sa cleanup operations sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaloob ng rapid environmental assessments ng mga apektadong areas, identification of priority areas at risk of environmental damage at assessment sa mga pangangailangan para sa ecosystem restoration.
“They (NOAA) provide support for scientific modeling to estimate the trajectory of the oil spill and satellite imagery to boost assessment efforts,” ani Galvez.
Una nang inihayag ng DND na nadiskubre ng Japanese ROV (remotely operated vehicle) ang extensive structural damage na inabot ng oil tanker na MT Princess Empress matapos ang paglubog nito.
“At this point, no visible consumption fuel leak coming from the damaged vessel. Oil leaks had been observed from all 8 compartments (tanks). Some through ballast tanks.Volume of remaining oil inside the compartments cannot be estimated at this point. Oil spillage rate from the source is likewise yet to be determined,” ani Galvez base sa findings ng Japanese team.
“Our response efforts, particularly the actions of the various government agencies, are present and very effective with the collaboration of all stakeholders, not to mention the assistance of our allies and other partner countries,” dagdag pa ni Galvez. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
