EMB discounts presence of oil spill remnant in Medellin waters

There are no traces of oil and grease in the shoreline of barangay Daanglungsod, Medellin town, northern Cebu, according to results of an inspection done by a team from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

The inspection came after residents in the area complained of an unusual presence of black filth in the shores that they suspect to be a remnant of an oil spill.

“Based on the EMB team’s account it’s negative. There are no traces of oil and grease. The characteristics of the sand over the area are blackish and clayish. It would appear as an oil or grease when they are hit by sunlight. The sand is similar to a mangrove area,” said Eddie Llamedo, regional Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) spokesperson.

The team took water samples for further analysis. Llamedo said the waters of Daanglungsod is considered a “bathing and fishery site”.

“The record or the laboratory results will tell us whether it is safe for bathing. The results of the laboratory tests will come out two weeks from now,” he said.

Llamedo recommends that the officials of Daanglungsod regularly monitor the area while waiting for the results of the water analysis being conducted.

Yesterday, Mayor Ricky Ramirez posted on his Facebook account photos of the black goo that line the shoreline and asked environmental groups to look at the situation.