Priceless marine assets, 7-M people at VIP now at risk–UP experts

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THICK black oil from the sunken MT Princess Empress continues to be released and is now seriously threatening priceless marine resources and famously pristine beaches of the Verde Island Passage (VIP), experts from the University of the PhilippinesCollege of Science’s Marine Science Institute (MSI) said.

B ased on Bulletin #10, as of March 21, 2023, the oil spill trajectory model forecasts that the spill will flow through the VIP for the rest of the week.

W ith the help of Japanese experts that used a remotely operated vehicle, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was able to capture images of the ill-fated vessel, exactly where it was earlier pinpointed by the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (Namria) using the sonar technology of BRP Ventura.

W ith the images, the Philippine Coast Guard along with support groups from Japan and US Coast Guard are expected to come up with the next plan of action. Experts said the leaks in the vessel where oil are seeping out should be sealed to stop the oil from further causing damage to marine ecosystems around it.

I n a statement, the UP-CS MSI said swaths of thick black oil from the MT Princess Empress are expected to hit the VIP by March 24 to 26, according to the UP-CS MSI.

L ocated between Batangas and Mindoro, the VIP is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, home to thousands of unique species.

A ccording to the UP-CS MSI, the number of people whose livelihood depends on the bounty of the VIP has reached the 7 million mark. With some of the highest