MANILA — The operation to siphon industrial fuel oil from sunken tanker MT Terra Nova could start Sunday and will take around seven days, the Philippine Coast Guard said Sunday.

Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo, Rear Adm. Armand Balilo said getting the oil from the Terra Nova and into its sister ship is the key to containing an oil spill in Manila Bay that could reach coastal towns along the bay.

"Pinaka-ultimate dito yung matanggal yung langis sa ilalim... Nandoon na yung salvage operator, magsisimula sila today," Balilo said.

(The ultimate solution here is to get the oil from the sunken ship. The salvage operator is already there and they will start today.)

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The PCG has used dispersants and booms to try to contain the spill, which Balilo described as "very minimal" since the tank storing the oil remains intact.

"Ito hindi tayo masyadong mahihirapan basta makisama yung weather ngayon (This will not be as much as a challenge, weather permitting)," Balilo said, comparing the Terra Nova spill to the 2023 MT Princess Empress spill that affected fishing and livelihoods in Oriental Mindoro.

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SPILL STILL MANAGEABLE

Balilo said the spill has spread 14 kilometers from the ship but that it is thin and can be managed with dispersants.

The spill was initially projected to reach the coastal areas of Manila, Pampanga and Bulacan, but, Balilo said, the wind has shifted and the oil is now traveling south towards Batangas and Cavite.

"We're hoping for the best. Ang susi dito talaga ma-siphon ang lahat (The key really here is to siphon out all the fuel from the tank)," he said.

He added the investigation is still ongoing into the sinking of the Terra Nova, which was being towed back to port after encountering rough seas off Bataan when it sank.

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