OCD: Batangas chemical spill now under control

CHEMICAL SPILL. Philippine Coast Guard personnel inspect the area off the coast of Barangay San Miguel in Bauan, Batangas on Nov. 4, 2023 after a chemical spill that prompted the evacuation of 53 families. The Office of Civil Defense on Tuesday night (Nov. 7, 2023) said the chemical spill is under control and that the evacuated families have returned to their homes. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)

MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced Tuesday night that the chemical spill incident in Bauan, Batangas that began over the weekend is under control.

“The recent chemical spill in Batangas is now under control, and all evacuees have safely returned to their homes. Immediate containment and cleanup operations were conducted along the affected shoreline. According to reports, the chemical has naturally dissipated,” OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement.

Nepomuceno said 53 families, consisting of 248 individuals, who were affected by the incident have returned to their homes.

“We express our gratitude to the local government units, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for their prompt response to the incident,” he said.

The families living in the coastal area of Barangay San Miguel in Bauan town were earlier evacuated due to the chemical spill, which began on Nov. 4.

The spill occurred when two drums of the hazardous substance solvent naphtha leaked due to an “untightened drain plug” of the storage tank of a nearby facility that receives, stores, and distributes chemical products.

The spill, which affected 6,000 square meters, also resulted in fish kill incidents.

Naphtha solvent is commonly used as an additive in paints and thinner products.

Exposure to this chemical can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Prolonged and excessive exposure may result in more severe health consequences.

Meanwhile, Nepomuceno also emphasized the importance of companies implementing preventive measures to mitigate the risk of chemical spills.

“In collaboration with our regional counterparts in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon) we will continue to monitor the impact of this incident and take necessary actions. Ongoing investigations are currently being conducted by the authorities. Additionally, we strongly urge companies to exercise caution and implement stringent measures to prevent similar incidents,” he added.