Boats, ships banned from approaching Manila baywalk seawall

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has banned private yachts and other ships from entering and anchoring near the coast of Manila Bay.

“Maglagay kami ng 2.5 kilometers mula sa shoreline, hindi puwedeng makakapasok anong vessel diyan. Ang makapasok lang diyan ‘yong mga magde-deliver ng mga sand diyan sa [beach] nourishment [project],” said Cimatu.

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According to DENR, the water in Manila Bay turned yellow due to the release of dirty water by a vessel, the MV Sarangani, on Saturday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) inspected the vessel’s engine on Monday morning.

“Normal naman po ‘yong mga nakita ng inspection team natin… may allegations na nahigop nitong barko during pag-start ng kaniyang generator, doon sa cooling niya po, ito pong mga algae formations,” said Lt. Michael John Encina, tagapagsalita ng PCG-National Capital Region.

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According to the ship’s oiler, Escolastico Bunyi, the ship had been stuck in the area for several months because it was damaged and needed to be repaired.

But he denied it included oil and wastewater.

“Galing din po ‘yan sa ilalim, sa dagat din. Kapag pinaaandar ‘yong makina dahil cooling po yan, seawater na may posibilidad na puwedeng sumipsip siya at papalabas ulit,” said in an earlier interview Bunyi.

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Boats, ships banned from approaching Manila baywalk seawall

Meanwhile, according to Emil Neri, owner of MV Sarangani, the water they released into Manila Bay did not include any oil.

It is said that the color of the seawater changes depending on the weather.

“Marumi ‘yung tubig kasi katatapos ng typhoon… environmental impact violation kagaya ng langis, wala po. Hindi bumibiyahe itong boat na ito, it’s not functioning,” said Neri.

But according to Cimatu, “It wasn’t [because of] the storm, it was really from there, right in the vessel. The picture was taken [wastewater] coming out of two holes.”

DENR earlier said that with or without oil, a shipowner can still be held liable for violating the Clean Water Act, which prohibits the release of anything that could cause water pollution or prevent the natural flow of water.

The owner of MV Sarangani will face multiple lawsuits if the wastewater is proven to be the cause of pollution.

The result of the laboratory analysis on the water samples obtained is still awaited.

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