The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) collaborate in investigating the Oriental Mindoro oil spill.

The PCG-DOST collaboration occurred after PCG's Marine Environmental Protection Commander, CG Vice Admiral Robert Patrimonio, requested DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. to assist the PCG in investigating the Oriental Mindoro oil spill.

DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) identified Dr. Hernando Bacosa as the lead expert in the oil spill investigation under the NRCP Expert Engagement Program.

Dr. Bacosa is an environmental science professor at Mindanao State University-lligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and the Campus Head of Mindanao State University-Main Campus Extension in Bataraza, Palawan. He is a DOST-NRCP member under the Biological Science Division and was tapped for his expertise in oil chemistry and fingerprinting analysis.

The PCG-DOST collaboration aims to improve investigation through laboratory analysis in oil biomarker fingerprinting through the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute and confirm the suspected source of oil that reached the coastlines of Oriental Mindoro, Antique, and Palawan.

PCG and DOST conducted oil sampling in offshore and shoreline operations to verify oil weathering characteristics.

The oil samples were collected from the offshore spill area, coastal communities affected, and the SL Harbor Bulk Terminal tank in Limay, Bataan, where the vessel acquired its Industrial Fuel Oil (IFO).

The collected samples are used to identify the specific bacteria present in the environment, culture local superior oil-degrading bacteria, and monitor the fate of oil to provide clues for future oil spill events under Philippine conditions.

Dr. Bacosa sought the assistance of the MSU in running the appropriate tests and looking through proper methods (i.e. American Society for Testing and Materials method and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) for the determination of waterborne oil samples and oil residues that could be used as confirmatory evidence admissible in court and following internationally accepted standard.

Incident Management Team-Oriental Mindoro Commander, CG Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, thanked DOST and Dr. Bacosa for providing technical advice on science matters, aside from the partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) experts.

Meanwhile, the PCG's Marine Environmental Protection Command also sent oil samples to laboratories in Japan and France for oil fingerprinting on 04 April 2023.