A new barge is expected to arrive at Campomanes Bay in, Brgy. Maricalum, Sipalay City, to rescue the barges enroute to Palawan that accidentally spilled limestone ore amid foul weather on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Philippine Coast Guard- Southern Negros Occidental Station Acting Commander, ENS. James Carbajosa, told DIGICAST NEGROS that the Big Sun barge has already been removed from the site, while Big John will await the new barge where its limestone ore cargo will be transferred.
Carbajosa said they have yet to determine damage the limestone ore spill has caused to Campomanes Bay, which is a marine protected area.
The barges, which each carried 7,500 metric tons of limestone ore, came from Bohol and were bound to Rio Tuba in Bataraza town in Palawan.
The PCG-Western Visayas have already coordinated to the Coast Guard central office to assist in investigating the incident, Carbajosa said.*