The waters off the coast of Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, located in the Arevalo district of Iloilo City, were affected by oil sludge, which prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Iloilo to respond and contain the spill.
According to PCG-Iloilo station commander, Lt. Commander Rodolfo Dela Peña, while the organization is still investigating the origins of the oil spill, they managed to collect around 20 kilograms of sludge along the beach.
He noted, a sample of the oil will be examined at the Marine Environmental Protection Unit.
Meanwhile, a coastal clean-up was conducted along the said beach yesterday by various organizations.
Evidence of the oil spill could be observed along a two-kilometer stretch of the beach.
Last month, a “One Time, Big Time” coastal clean-up took place in Iloilo City’s Molo and Arevalo districts collected 18 tons of garbage.
“The coastal clean-up raised awareness among residents, especially those who are living along the shorelines, on the importance of having a clean sea,” said Iloilo City Environment Management Specialist Renan Escoto./WDJ