CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The United States Coast Guard cited the Philippine Coast Guard for its unique handling of the oil slick off the coast of this province.
Stacy Crecy, leader of the US Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team, said the PCG was very well-organized due to its unique method of collaborating with other government agencies, local governments, and the affected communities.
FISHERMEN wearing personal protective equipment clean the oil slick from the sunken tanker Princess Empress on the shore in Pola, Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday, March 22. (AFP)
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“Our initial assessment is that the Philippine Coast Guard has organized and has done an amazing job, very similar to how we are doing in the US, for what we have observed. Here, it has been a phenomenal job of formation and action taken,” said Crecy during a press briefing at the Philippine Ports Authority here on Wednesday, March 22.
“That was very impressive to us. You have done many actions to incorporate the citizens and showed much ingenuity. The cooperation between all seems to be working very well,” added Crecy.
The US Coast Guard is in the Philippines in response to the call made early this month by PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio M. Abu for assistance in containing the oil slick from the country’s allies such as Japan, South Korea and the US.
Meanwhile, a team of marine disaster experts from South Korea is expected to arrive on March 28 in this province to assist the PCG in the cleanup operation.
South Korea will provide 20 tons of absorbent pads, 2,000 sets of personal protective equipment, and a 1,000-meter spill boom, said the PCG.