The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will look into the possibility of acquiring a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or an underwater robot which may be used in future oil spill response operations.

If it pushes through, the acquisition of the ROV will enable the PCG to respond more efficiently and quickly in case of an oil spill, said Rear Adm. Armando Balilo, PCG spokesperson.

“Magandang magkaroon, magandang pag-aralan para kapag dumating ‘yung panahon we can respond properly (It’s good if we can have it, it’s good to study so if the time comes, we can respond properly),” Balilo said on Tuesday, March 28.

The need for more advanced assets and equipment for the PCG was highlighted when motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress sank in the vicinity waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28.

The vessel was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil which started leaking and caused an oil spill that has since affected around 36,000 families or 173,000 individuals from 163 barangays in Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, and Batangas.

While the PCG was quick to implement measures to contain the oil spill, it took about three weeks before the sunken ship was located by ROV Hakuyo from Japanese dynamic positioning vessel (DPS) Shin Nichi Maru.

Now, the PCG had to rely from the help of other countries such as the United States to possibly deploy another ROV which has the capability to drain the leaking fuel from MT Princess Empress and ultimately stop the oil spill.

Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant, also met with the Korean coast Guard Emergency Response Team to discuss the current situation in Oriental Mindoro and strategize plans of action to augment the ongoing cleanup efforts. The team was composed of Marine Pollution Response Division Director Lee Jongnam; members Kang Kyungeun; Nam Sunghoon; and Jeong Sangyoun of the KCG Special Rescue Unit.

But if the PCG will be able to acquire its own ROV, Balilo said this will be a game-changer for their oil spill response capabilities.

“Makakaya natin tumayo sa sarili nating paa at kagyat na makakatugon tayo at makaka-respond nang mabilis (We can stand on our own feet and we can readily respond),” he said.