BADOC, Ilocos Norte — A multiagency response team scrambled on Tuesday, June 9, to contain an oil spill along the coast of Badoc, Ilocos Norte, after a cargo vessel carrying construction aggregates ran aground due to rough weather.
Uniformed personnel, government workers, and local volunteers laid down absorbent pads and oil spill booms along the shoreline of Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa to mitigate the environmental impact.
According to environmental authorities, the slick was traced to a leak in the engine of the vessel, MSCI 1, while its reserve oil tanks have fortunately remained completely sealed.
Following an emergency meeting of the oil spill response team—which includes the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Marines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the local government of Badoc—Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Victor Dabalos directed the ship’s manager to seal the engine leak by all means necessary to prevent severe economic damage to local fisherfolk and coastal ecosystems.
Dabalos confirmed that the vessel originated from Omnico Port in the neighboring town of Currimao and possessed a legal transport permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“The vessel was en route to Calayan in Cagayan province carrying aggregates when it had an emergency beaching amid bad weather on June 8, 2026, along the Badoc shoreline,” Dabalos said in a phone interview.
A general coastal cleanup is currently underway to clear debris accumulation near the listing vessel. The DENR is spearheading debris management operations and conducting ground validation to assess the status of affected coastal resources and habitats, while closely coordinating with security forces to monitor ongoing developments.|
