Over 3,700 residents of Rizal province were rescued by members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) during the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Enteng” on Monday, Sept. 2.
The PCG stated that a total of 3,773 individuals were rescued and evacuated from the flooded areas of Pililia, Morong, and Cainta.
The PCG said they are actively conducting search and rescue operations while coordinating with local government units and concerned agencies to deliver effective public service and aid to the impacted communities.
Meanwhile, the agency reported that it monitored 75 stranded passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers, along with 1 vessel, 15 rolling cargoes, and 2 motorbancas, while 20 vessels and 21 motorbancas were taking shelter in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, and Northwestern Luzon due to Enteng, between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Sept. 3.
The PCG on Tuesday, Sept. 3, responded to an aground vessel in the vicinity waters of Pondohan, Tangos North in Navotas City.
Per the initial investigation of the PCG, Barge Karangalan 2 was moored at the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Shipping Lighterage Wharf in Tanza, Navotas City, when its forward ropes accidentally gave way, resulting in the barge drifting around 6 a.m.
The agency said MTUG Limay 3 immediately towed the vessel toward a safer place.
“At around 9:15 a.m., Barge Karangalan 2 dropped anchored along the vicinity waters of Tanza, Navotas City, but due to strong winds and big waves, it was once again dragged towards the shallow portion of Pondohan, Tangos North, Navotas City,” it stated.
PCG said it advised the “master to file a marine protest and an emergency salvage permit for extraction.”
To prevent possible oil leaks that may be caused by strong currents and heavy weather conditions, the PCG on Tuesday, Sept. 3, ordered the temporary suspension of the siphoning operation in Limay, Bataan.
The agency reported that Harbor Star, the contracted salvor, is once again transferring oil waste to trucks for transport to a designated treatment facility in Marilao, Bulacan.
“Harbor Star commits to transfer over 402,000 liters of recovered oily waste today,” it added.
On Sept. 1, the PCG announced that the contracted salvor, Harbor Star, collected a total of 1,032,557.58 liters of oily waste from August 19 to 31 from the sunken motor tanker (MT) Terranova.
Earlier, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that “Enteng” made landfall for the first time over Casiguran, Aurora province, at 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept.