tomorrow’s Manila Times:
“CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro: A study by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute after the recent massive oil spill off Oriental Mindoro waters warned coastal communities — especially those on the eastern and southern sides of Oriental Mindoro, including Caluya Island (Northwestern Antique), and potentially Cuyo Island of Palawan — to prepare for the possibility that the oil spill could reach their shores. The study added that a recent simulation focusing on the area of the tanker's location from March 10 to 16 shows that with continuous seepage of oil, most of the oil will end up along the Naujan coast and Pola Bay. "However, due to the weakening amihan, some of the oil may flow northwards towards other areas of the Verde Island Passage by March 16, affecting coastal areas of Calapan, Verde Island, and some parts of Batangas. The oil spill threatens the global center of marine biodiversity located in the Verde Island Passage (VIP)," the report added. The VIP is the body of water between Batangas and Mindoro and it has the highest concentration of coastal fishes, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, sea grasses, and mangroves. The VIP is also home to endangered and threatened species including the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, whale sharks, manta rays, dugongs, humphead wrasses, giant groupers, and giant clams. Damage from the oil spill may affect biodiversity including endemic species only found in the Philippines as well as species yet to be discovered, tourism revenues, and food security in the area, the report further said.”