MANILA (UPDATED) — The Philippine Coast Guard has already collected more than 70 drums of fuel as they race to contain the oil spill in the San Isidro River in San Pedro City, Laguna, authorities said Monday.

The oil spill — which is feared to affect fisherfolk's livelihood — started after a warehouse in one of the city barangays caught fire on Saturday.

The PCG recovered around 50 drums of leaked fuel in the vicinity of the fire-hit Kengian Complex warehouse while 22 drums of oil were collected in the San Isidro River, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) said.

Langis mula sa nasusunog na warehouse nagdulot ng oil spill sa ilog sa San Pedro

Sunog sa warehouse sa San Pedro, Laguna, hindi pa rin naaapula

The oil spill is now controlled and has been prevented from reaching the Laguna De Bay, one of the largest sources of fish in the country, said Aloysius Capisonda of LLDA's surveillance and monitoring division. 

Based on LLDA's monitoring, the oil spill is only 800 meters away from reaching Laguna de Bay, promoting the PCG to install oil spill booms in the lake.

The PCG is using a skimming machine to collect the leaked fuel.

"Huwag lang uulan at magkakaroon ng malakas na hangin, 'yun ang magiging peligro natin pero kung ganito ang panahon, the coast guard doing doon sa skimming medyo sa tingin ko mare-recover natin ang mga used oil na ito," Capisonda said.

"Mayroon na rin kaming ginagawang request for cooperation sa isang water concessionaire kung puwde tumulong sila doon sa pag-suction sa used oil para mas mapabilis," said Capisonda.

The official added that they were also requesting cooperation from a water concessionaire to help hasten the siphoning of the leaked fuel.

ACCOUNTABILITY

San Pedro City Agriculture Officer Enrique Layola warned that the oil spill could contaminate many fish once it reaches Laguna de Bay and impact fishers' livelihood.

The DENR and LLDA have said that they are studying possible fines and ways to make the owner of the warehouse accountable for the oil spill.

Jet Ramos, a representative of Kengian Complex, said they would shoulder the cost of clean-up operations related to the oil spill. 

Ramos added that they also contracted a facility where recovered fuel would be treated.

Nilo Tamoria, regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Calabarzon, said various groups were helping with the clean-up operations, including private firms.

Officials have already distributed masks to residents after they complained about the oil fumes, said Nico Pavino, head of the San Pedro City disaster office.

WAREHOUSE FIRE

Fernando Castillo, Bureau of Fire Protection San Pedro City fire marshall, said that fire had been put out in the two warehouses of the Kengian Complex, which kept 200 drums of motor oil. 

It is unclear how many drums of fuel leaked into the San Isidro River. But Castillo said all drums in the warehouse were all "totally collapsed."

The BFP said it has yet to fully extinguish the remaining fires at the Kengian Complex. It said they were focusing on warehouse number 8, where hardwoods were stored.

A total of 13 warehouses in the complex were razed by the fire, with authorities estimating that the blaze caused around P500 million worth of damage.

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