LINGAYEN, Pangasinan-The provincial agriculturist fears that “if the coal spill (in Agno town) will not be controlled immediately it will result in the continuing damage in the already established coral reef in the area”.

Jose Almendares told local reporters that the provincial government has been into protecting areas that have been identified by the municipalities because of the Coastal Resources Management enforcement of fishery laws.

“Rehabilitating the same is something that would require us time, millions of investment also for the government and private sector as well,” he said.

Lawyer Virgilio Solis, provincial administrator, sent Friday a
demand letter to the owner of the barge LCT Eisner based in Dagat-dagatan, Malabon, giving him 10 days to remove the vessel and pay damages or face legal action. The decision was arrived at after an emergency meeting held at the Urduja House upon the order of Gov. Victor Agbayani.

The shipping company was also directed to remove all the litter. Pending removal of the barge, the vessel owner, as recommended by the Coast Guard, must also put net on the uncovered barge, to avoid further spillage”.

Solis said the 10 days ultimatum is “non-negotiable”.

Almendares said that that they are so worried about the Agno incident where a barge LCT Eisner carrying coal ran aground off sitio Talisay, barangay Macaboboni in Agno town on Dec. 15, 2005.

Eisner is an Asian Shipping Line hired by the Philippine National Oil Company which came from Semirara, Antique to deliver 4,500 metric tons of coal to PNOC coal terminal at Poro, San Fernando City, La Union. On its way along the navigational waters of Agno, the bridal cable of M/T Jimmy tugboat broke on Dec. 18 so the barge was released due to strong winds
and waves current spawned by a storm.

Almendares said they are so worried about the incident in Agno because they already have an incident in Bolinao town. He said mariculture program in the area already solved the food security as far as fish requirement is concerned.

Almendares said the thrust of provincial government is resource rehabilitation, particularly these marine protected areas, thus the need to address the problem in unison with the local government officials of Agno town.

“We cannot just allow time to pass rather enforce certain Maritime laws as well,” he said.

He said it’s been “too long a time that they (Agno officials) have not acted on their responsibility that’s why we came in”.

Though there was allegedly an agreement made between Agno officials and the vessel owner regarding this matter, Almendares said," With the resolution that we have agreed on this meeting, I don’t believe that we can just hold on with their agreement among themselves but we really have to
implement what has been agreed upon today and time has to be imposed".

Eudes Bautista, a crew member of the barge said they have tried three times to remove the barge but failed due to high waves.