© Noel Celis / Greenpeace

BULACAN, Philippines (28 July 2024) — Oil from capsized tanker MT Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, has reached the municipal waters of Hagonoy, Bulacan. A thick layer of oil has been seen across the water’s surface approximately 4 kilometers from the coastline.[1]

Filipino coastal communities are recovering from extreme floods due to Super Typhoon Carina while bracing for an imminent environmental disaster from an oil spill. Greenpeace is calling on the government to take immediate and decisive action to contain and mitigate the spill, and protect affected ecosystems and communities. 

Greenpeace demands that President Marcos Jr. hold the fossil fuel industry accountable and to make them pay for damages to ecosystems, community livelihood and health.

You may download the complete set of hi-res photos and videos HERE. 

Photo captions:

1 – A thick layer of oil can be seen across the water’s surface approximately four kilometers from the coastline in Hagonoy, Bulacan. The oil spill from capsized tanker MT Terranova which was carrying 1.4 million liters of oil is now affecting the municipal waters of several areas, including Bulacan, Cavite, and Bataan. Greenpeace demands that President Marcos Jr. hold the fossil fuel industry accountable and to make them pay for damages to ecosystems, community livelihood and health. © Noel Celis / Greenpeace

2 – Aerial images reveal the extensive spread of the oil spill from sunken tanker MT Terranova, showing the vast damage inflicted on the affected waters and ecosystems on which communities depend for their livelihood and sustenance. Greenpeace is calling on President Marcos Jr. to make oil and gas companies pay for polluting our waters and fueling the climate crisis. © Noel Celis / Greenpeace

Photo credit: © Noel Celis / Greenpeace

Notes to editors:

[1] Exact coordinates of location:
Latitude 14°43’14/310”N
Longitude 120°45’11.922”E
Manila Bay, Central Luzon, Philippines

[2] A team from Greenpeace Philippines and Oceana went to the area in Hagonoy following reports of sightings of oil slick in the area based on the satellite photos in Karagatan Patrol and the projection of its spread here. This was confirmed by Barangay officials of Isla Tibaguin who saw oil when they went out to sea the night before to catch fish. They took videos of the oil slick. 

The Greenpeace documentation team and campaigner left the jetty around 9:40am, and saw the spill at 10:00am, reaching the thickest part at 10:36am. (Coordinates: lat. 14.7206417, long. 120.75331166666666.) Photos and videos were taken from 10:00am to 10:36am. The boat in the photo is the boat carrying the Greenpeace team, and where the drone was launched.

The photos and videos validated the information shared by barangay officials and the report in Karagatan Patrol. The team did not encounter any Philippine Coast Guard personnel in the morning when they went to the site. Aerial photos and videos are now uploaded in the Greenpeace media library, media.greenpeace.org

For requests for interviews and other information, please contact:

Johanna Fernandez, Greenpeace Philippines Communications and Digital Manager
[email protected] | +63 9209759844

Eunille Santos, Greenpeace Philippines Communications Campaigner
[email protected] | +63 9175411248