DENR Secretary Lauds EMB Region 6 Oil Spill Response Efforts

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, recognized the Environmental Management Bureau Region 6, in its efforts of responding to the oil spill incident last February, in the Para Sa Bayan: Milestones and Pathways to Environmental Sustainability held in the Philippine International Convention Center on July 31, 2023.

EMB Western Visayas Regional Director, Atty. Ramar Niel V. Pascua accepted the recognition on behalf of the men and women behind the hard work of monitoring and mitigating the oil spill in Semirara, Antique. To note, this is in reference to the sinking of MT Princess Empress in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, which reached the coast of Semirara Island covering 3 kilometers of shoreline, recovering 4,590 kilograms of oil-contaminated waste. EMB Region 6 was one of the first National Government Agencies to respond and conducted monitoring, sampling, and cleanups, which lasted until March 2023.

Also recognized by the Secretary for their efforts in the said incident were Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Marine Science Institute, Philippine Coast Guard, San Miguel Corporation, and Petron among others.

Source: Environmental Management Bureau