Children play along the coast of Limay, Bataan on July 30, 2024. A fishing ban has been implemented in areas near Lamao port, where a sunken tanker has caused an oil spill. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

The Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday said actions were being taken to give way for the siphoning operations on the sunken MT Terra Nova that caused a massive oil spill off Limay, Bataan. 

The PCG said it has sealed all valves and high-level alarm pipes of the vessel, while a working barge and receiving tanker were positioned on site.

But authorities still needed to replace initial capping bags with more durable metal caps that could withstand bad weather and the siphoning operations.

It will take a week to make the metal capping and another seven days to install it, the coast guard said. 

"With the above developments, the siphoning will be moved to not later than two weeks from now," PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said. 

"This due diligence measure will however afford us with better control to reduce to barest minimum the possibility of disastrous oil spill during the conduct of siphoning activity," he added. 

The tanker has leaked "very thin oil sheens," the PCH said. 

Bataan town reels from oil spill 

"But control measures are in place, including oil spill booms laid, skimmers on site, and oil dispersants being employed, as necessary,” it added. 

The tanker was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank in bad weather off Manila last week, killing a crew member. 

The spill is expected to reach Bulacan, Cavite, and Metro Manila, according to experts 

Eight areas in Cavite were placed under a state of calamity as the oil spill already reached the province’s coastline, said Governor Jonvic Remulla. 

Oil spill from MT Terra Nova projected to reach Batangas: UP MSI

Vessel runs aground off the coast of Bataan, causing another oil spill