Ilocos Oil Spill Contained: Local Livelihoods Protected

CALASIAO, Pangasinan. Authorities have successfully contained an oil spill off the coast of Ilocos Norte, preventing a broader crisis for local fisheries and the families who depend on them. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) continues to monitor the area, ensuring stability for the local fishing industry after a cargo vessel sank.

Swift Action Prevents Environmental Disaster

The cargo vessel LCT MSCI 1 ran aground in the coastal waters of Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa in Badoc, Ilocos Norte on Sunday, eventually sinking on Thursday. An estimated three to five drums of an oil mixture leaked from the vessel, affecting an area within a 15-meter radius. Swift action by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other responding agencies deployed oil spill booms and absorbent pads, keeping the damage minimal and protecting local waters.

Protecting Local Families and Industries

So far, BFAR reports no fish kill incidents, no abnormal fish behavior, and no confirmed contamination of fish and other fishery products. This is welcome news for the local economy. Based on revalidation by the Provincial Fisheries Offices of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, at least 228 fisherfolk families in Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa, Badoc, and 68 fisherfolk in Barangay Dadalaquiten, Sinait, Ilocos Sur have been identified as affected by the incident.

Protecting these local industries is paramount. BFAR is conducting assessments of affected fishing grounds, marine resources, and coastal communities while providing technical assistance to safeguard public health and the welfare of fisherfolk.