More that 2,000 hectares of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass will be affected due to the oil spill from a motor tanker that sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro and was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel.

This was the statement from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as based on their initial findings.

It also said that based on their assessment, approximately 591 hectares of coral reefs, 1,626 hectares of mangroves and 362 hectares of seagrass or seaweeds can be potentially affected.

According to the DENR there are 21 locally managed marine protected areas located in Oriental Mindoro.

They also said that the Verde Island Passage—the globally recognized center of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity—is where the potential impact map is based on the last known location of MT Princess Empress.

For now, the town of Pola is really affected as it has declared a state of calamity.

This is due to the fact that the seawater and shoreline started to turn black with various fish species dead.

The University of the Philippines- Diliman College of Science Marine Science Institute (UPD-CS MSI) on the other hand said that the oil spill may eventually affect 24,000 hectares of coral reef.

They said that this one and a half times the area of Quezon City.

“The oil has reportedly reached the shores of the coastal towns of Naujan, Pola, and Pinamalayan. With the direction of the wind and the waves, the oil might reach the southern tip of Mindoro in a matter of days,” UPD-CS MSI said in their statement.

“At risk is over 24,000 hectares of coral reef area in Mindoro alone—from Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, all the way to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro,” they added.

MT Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank due to strong waves on February 28.

Catherine R. Cueto