In a briefing at the Department of National Defense, Vice President Noli de Castro said the government ordered the stoppage in the rescue and retrieval efforts in the capsized ship after receiving reports that a cargo of endosulfan, a chemical used in pineapple plantations, had been loaded in the ship.
De Castro noted that the pesticide shipment was from Del Monte Philippines.
“We aborted the retrieval operations… because of the pesticide inside the ship,” De Castro said.
For his part, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez Jr said the vessel was found to be carrying 10 metric tons of the highly-toxic pesticide, and that authorities have shifted efforts to containing the chemical and retrieving the shipment.
“Search and rescue is now stopped because the government just found out that 10 MT of highly toxic insecticides inside the MV Princess of the Stars. President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo instructed the NDCC to focus efforts in trying to contain the chemical and carefully retrieve the 40-foot container so as not to contaminate the environment,” Golez said.
“The DOH is now doing necessary health education and giving health services while the DSWD is currently doing social preparation to the communities and relatives of the victims. All necessary precautions are now being undertaken to ensure the safety of our people,” he added.
De Castro said that so far, there has been no indication that the pesticide container had been opened, although he said that rescue workers should not have been allowed to enter the vessel had they known that it was carrying a 40-footer container van of pesticide.
Sulpicio to face raps
De Castro said the government mulling action against Sulpicio Lines for withholding information about the pesticide shipment, saying the information on pesticide presence came not from the shipping firm but from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority.
Officials said the FPA on Thursday reported to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) that the former has received a letter from Del Monte Philippines which states that their pesticide shipment was a cargo in the capsized ship.
FPA also informed DOTC that in another letter, Del Monte advised Sulpicio Lines to declare that the capsized vessel was carrying the chemical.
“Ang malinaw dito, since day one, hindi agad sinabi na may pesticide sa loob ng barko… Of course, we are preparing whatever actions to be taken against Sulpicio Lines (What is clear is that since day one, they have not disclosed that there is pesticide inside the vessel),” De Castro said.
In a separate radio interview, De Castro cited information indicating the endosulfan in the container van was not sealed but merely placed in plastic bags and tied with wire then placed in cartons.
The pesticide was reportedly to be brought to Del Monte’s plantation.
De Castro said Sulpicio will be held accountable because toxic substances like endosulfan should be banned from being loaded aboard passenger ships.
“Ito ay bawal ikarga sa passenger ship. Pero kasama ito ng gulay at kamatis, magkakasama pa sila (This should not even be aboard a passenger ship. Worse, it was mixed together with containers for vegetables),” De Castro said in the radio interview.
For her part, Transportation Undersecretary Elena Bautista, head of a task force looking into the incident, said they have recalled the divers and are awaiting advise from higher authorities on how to proceed with the rescue and retrieval efforts.
Bautista said their concern is now the health of divers who have spent days searching for survivors and bodies inside the ship.
“Pinatigil namin ang pagsisid sa divers, antayin nila ang abiso sa Manila kung ano ang susunod na kailangang gawin (We recalled the divers for the moment. They will wait for advice from Manila on what to do next),” Bautista said.
Fish ban
Bautista said the Bureau of Plant Industries is now analyzing for toxicity levels water samples taken from parts of the ship and from the waters nearby.
So far, she said there has been no indication of fish kill in the area, but she nonetheless advised residents not to eat fish taken from the area.
The advisory came a day after the health department sought to allay fears that the fish taken from Romblon may not be fit for human consumption.
“Huwag muna kumain ng isda diyan habang di pa lumalabas ang result ng lab test (We advise people not to eat fish there until the lab test results come out),” Bautista said.
Also, Bautista said she has talked to experts who will dive into the water to assess where to bore a hole to find the 40-footer container van, and extract it.
“Hopefully masimulan bukas ng hapon (Hopefully we can start it Saturday afternoon),” Bautista said, adding a barge with a crane has been sent to the site from Metro Manila for the extraction. - GMANews.TV
Filed under: Thunder Articles, Thunder Circles, Thunder Cycle, Thunder Health and more, Thunder News Lines | Tagged: frank, MV princess of the stars, Pesticide found in capsized ship halts retrieval operat, Sulpicio Lines, typhoon FRANK
