ILOILO CITY - Two abandoned dredger vessels owned by the Philippine Ports Authority have leaked a pungent yellowish substance at a river in Barangay Concepcion.

Philports D-V and Philports D-III have been moored in the area for about 2 years, but the foul-smelling liquid only appeared after the vessels tilted 2 weeks ago, residents here said.

The Philippine Coastguard has assured that the incident was not an oil spill.

"It is not an oil spill but oil sheen which comes from sludges found inside the vessel," said Lt. Cdr. Ramil Palabrica of the Philippine Coastguard Iloilo.

Palabrica said the PPA cleans the sludge emitted by its parked vessels from time to time.

"There are 5 other abandoned vessel around the vicinity which are owned by the PPA," Palabrica said.

Officials said they have already asked the PPA to remove the ships from the Iloilo river or send them to dry dock.