Philippines Lubang residents mobilize for oil spill defense amid Bataan spill threat

Residents of Lubang town demonstrated their community spirit on Sunday morning (August 4) by coming together at their fish port in Barangay Maguinhawa in the Poblacion to create improvised oil spill booms.

This proactive measure aims to protect their shores from the potential spread of an oil spill originating from Bataan.

The incident began when the MT Terranova sank in Limay, Bataan province, on July 25, while carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel. The vessel capsized about seven kilometers east of Lamao Point in Limay town, a prime fishing area.

Lubang, a fourth-class municipality in Occidental Mindoro province, includes the northwestern half of Lubang Island and Cabra Island.

The oil spill has already affected Manila Bay, Bulacan, and Cavite, driven by southwest winds.

The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute projected that the spill could reach Calatagan on Saturday, August 2, at 9 a.m., though the projection was classified as “low confidence.”

These projections are based on prevailing ocean currents and weather patterns, intended to inform the public and aid response efforts on the ground.

In a phone interview on Sunday afternoon, Lubang Mayor Michael Lim Orayani mentioned that according to the weather forecast from the Windy app, the southwest monsoon will continue until August 13, potentially directing the oil spill towards Oriental Mindoro.

"Winds may change, so it is best to be prepared. We had more than 200 volunteers who improvised about 200 meters of boom in just half a day. Some villages like Maliig are doing it in their place. Our target is 500 meters, and we will resume on Sunday because people have other work to do," said Orayani.

Residents are also occupied with activities for the August 15 town fiesta, celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Orayani explained that they have gathered coconut husks from coastal clean-up efforts, which are being pounded for the boom, with pieces of cloth used as absorbents. They are also utilizing hundreds of plastic bottles previously collected, which will be ground down when their eco-hub becomes fully operational.

The oil spill poses a significant threat to Lubang’s sea, which provides food and livelihood for the community, and impacts their tourism prospects. Although the town is free of African Swine Flu, fish remains a staple food.

A livestream of the bayanihan effort on the local government’s social media page, "Ang Pamahalaang Bayan ng Lubang," showed the Philippine Coast Guard leading the initiative. Supporting the effort were the municipal disaster risk reduction management office, the Association of Barangay Captains, Pangolong Operators, volunteer fishers, Guardians Brotherhood, Lubang chapter, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) officials.

On August 2, Orayani issued a directive to prepare for an oil spill, fearing that the spill could reach Lubang and directly affect their fishing areas.

According to the 2020 census, Lubang has a population of 17,437. Around 4,000 are fisher-farmers and vendors who would be affected if the oil spill contaminated the sea, which is part of the Verde Island Passage, recognized by experts as the “center of the center” of marine biodiversity in the world.