MASINLOC, Zambales—Local residents are worried about a marine disaster after a barge carrying more than 11,000 metric tons (MT) of coal ran aground last week in a fish sanctuary within a government-declared protected seascape off this town.

Nestor Dait, 67, the chair of the Bantay Dagat civilian volunteer group in Masinloc, said the barge Katapatan 2 hit coral reefs, spilling its cargo of coal some 400 meters from the shoreline of San Salvador Island.

“Ang sabi po ng mga residente at kasamahan nating Bantay Dagat na nakatira sa tapat ng pinagsadsaran niya, tumagilid [yung barge] at nabutas ang dingding niya, butas-butas na. Wala nang laman yung barge,” Dait said.

(Residents and our fellow Bantay Dagat members who live across from where it ran aground said [the barge] tipped over and its walls already had holes. The barge is now empty.)

The Katapatan 2, owned by SMC Shipping and Lighterage Corp. and transporting 11,213.842 MT of coal, left Semirara Island in Antique on Oct. 17, together with a tugboat, Karapatan 1, according to Cmdr. Euphraim Jayson Diciano, chief of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in Zambales.

They were en route to Namonitan Wharf in Santo Tomas, La Union, when it encountered strong winds and rough seas brought about by severe tropical storm “Kristine,” Diciano said in a phone interview on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Bad weather

Citing reports from the PCG substation in Masinloc, he said the two vessels had planned to take shelter at the Masinloc Power Plant, but the bad weather prompted them to seek refuge off San Salvador Island, hoping that sailing conditions would improve. 

However, around 6 p.m. on the same day, the Katapatan 2 ran aground 800 meters from the island.

“Hindi din naman kagustuhan ng mga tao na ang barge sumadsad pero kaming mga Bantay Dagat na mga mangingisda din, alam namin na coal yan at malaking epekto niyan sa ating pangisdaan pati na sa mga bahura natin na siyang tirahan ng mga isda,” Dait said.

(The crew themselves did not want the barge to run aground either, but sea guards like us who are also fishermen know that it is coal and that it will greatly affect our fisheries and our reefs which serve as fish shelter).

Dait is among the volunteers who committed to protect the Masinloc-Oyon Bay Protected Seascape and Landscape (MOBPLS), the first marine protected area in Central Luzon and considered one of the key biodiversity areas in the country. It is among the richest fishing grounds that Dait and other fisherfolk here and in nearby Palauig town depend on for their livelihood.

Three tugboats from Masinloc Power Plant proceeded to the accident site to help in rescue operations. However, one crew member, identified as Benjie Rodriguez, 40, was swept by the strong wind and large waves.

Rodriguez was unconscious when recovered by other crew members and was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital. 

Call for gov’t action

Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the New Masinloc Fishermen Association, also expressed his fear of the possible effects of the incident on their fishing ground and demanded immediate action from authorities. 

“Ilang araw na nga hindi makalaot ang mga mangingisda dahil sa sama ng panahon tapos ito nanaman ang panibagong problema sa ating mga pangisdaan,” said Cuaresma. “Dapat panagutin kung sino man ang pumayag na makapasok yan ngayon na may bagyo dahil malaki ang epekto nito lalo na kung may mga bahura silang nasira.”

(It’s been a few days since the fishermen couldn’t fish because of the bad weather and then this is another problem in our fisheries). (Whoever agreed to [let that barge] enter with a typhoon should be held accountable because it has a big impact especially if they have damaged the coral reefs.)

Another fisherfolk group, Pamalakaya, called on the concerned agencies and local governments to step up their efforts to immediately remove the stranded barge.

“Dapat papanagutin ang kumpanyang may-ari ng sumadsad na barge sa pagtutuloy ng operasyon nito sa gitna ng masamang panahon. Indikasyon din ito ng nagpapatuloy pang paggamit ng marumi at di-sustenableng panggatong sa kabila ng mga pahayag ng gobyerno na pauunlarin ang renewable energy,” said Ronnel Arambulo, Pamalakaya vice chairperson.

(The company that owns the barge should be held accountable for continuing its operations amid bad weather. This is also an indication of the continued use of dirty and unsustainable fuel despite the statements of the government to develop renewable energy)

Diciano said after the PCG substation in Masinloc received a report from Dait about the incident, they tried to immediately launch their floating asset, but they aborted the mission due to bad weather.

“If it happens, since it is coal, it will be a big challenge for us on how to manage it properly because we have limited know-how to address that,” he said. “Coal is a raw product, so we need to collect it manually, unlike oil, especially if persistent oil, it will dissipate or emulsify.”

The PCG is now coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on how to manage the incident.

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