MANILA — An oil spill in waters off Oriental Mindoro province may affect 21 marine protected areas, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

A motor tanker carrying around 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil partly sank off Romblon on Tuesday and drifted towards Naujan, Oriental Mindoro after it was battered by strong waves.

• 20 nasagip mula sa lumubog na motor tanker sa Or. Mindoro

"On a maximum of 40-kilometer radius from 5 nautical miles east of Balingawan Port, 21 locally-managed marine protected areas can be potentially affected due to oil spillage," the DENR said in a statement on Wednesday.

The oil spill has spread over 24 square kilometers, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito "Bonz" Dolor said on Thursday.

"Yung 6 by 4 kilometers na [affected area na] ito ay tila ba lumalapad,” he told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

(The 6 by 4-kilometer affected area seems to be getting even wider.)

The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that some of the sunken tanker's cargo has leaked into waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

A coast guard personnel collects water sample from an oil spill in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on March 2, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard

A coast guard personnel collects water sample from an oil spill in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on March 2, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard

A coast guard personnel collects water sample from an oil spill in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on March 2, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard

The PCG also said it observed oil spill stranding along the shoreline of Barangay Buhay na Tubig in Pola, Oriental Mindoro.

The coast guard has installed spill booms to keep the marine protected areas safe, the environment department said.

Authorities have also started spraying oil dispersants into the water, Dolor added.

"Merong confirmation naman at meron assurance yung company ng MT Princess Empress na kung ano man ang posibleng maging damage nito ay nakahanda silang sagutin," added the governor.

(We have confirmation and assurance from the company behind MT Princess Empress that they will be responsible for any damage.)

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The local government will assist fishermen who cannot earn a living due to the oil spill, Dolor said.

"Kung gaaano kalaki yung maapektuhan nito, sapagkat lumalaki na eh, nakahanda naman po ang pamahalaang panlalawigan na magbigay ng ayuda doon sa mga affected na mangingisda," he said.

(The local government is ready to help fishermen in all affected areas.)

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The DENR said it also coordinated with private sector experts to create a mid to long-term risk management strategy for the affected areas.