Oil sludge removal starts in Ilocos

Using shovels, rakes and dust pans, and even spoons, government employees, residents, fishermen and volunteers from different towns of La Union tediously scooped and gathered the coagulated oil that had reached coastal areas here. Reports from local governments and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the gel-like substance or sludge from a sunken Myanmar vessel or another ship had reached as far as the coastline of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. In La Union, at least 200 sacks of the sludge had been collected from the towns of San Juan, Luna, Bangar, Balaoan, Bactonan and San Fernando City in the last three days, said Ranilo Ipac, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.