The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reassured the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of its continued support in the ongoing oil spill response operations in pursuit of marine ecosystem protection in Oriental Mindoro.

This occurred during DENR Undersecretary Marilou Erni's visit to the Unified Incident Command Post in Calapan yesterday, 11 April 2023.

After the briefing led by Incident Management Team (IMT)-Oriental Mindoro Commander, CG Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, DENR Usec. Erni pledged to closely coordinate with the PCG to provide early recovery programs and restore the living state of oil spill-affected communities.

DENR Usec. Erni was appointed by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga as the Task Force Commander for the Task Force Naujan Oil Spill.

Usec. Erni served as Corporate Ground Response Coordinator during the oil spill response operations when M/T Solar 1 sank off the coast of Guimaras in 2006, spilling more than 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel.

The PCG works with the DENR to conduct shoreline clean-up and assessment techniques with Coast Guard marine science technicians and utilize satellite laboratory and water quality monitoring with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) technical personnel.

Moreover, the PCG and DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) MIMAROPA continue sampling collection and laboratory analysis for oil and grease.

The EMB also helps install provisional locally available spill booms as precautionary measures to prevent the oil spill from reaching beaches and mangrove areas in Oriental Mindoro.