AGNO – The water in the shoreline of this town facing the south China sea is still as black as coal.

It has been over two months now since a cargo ship loaded with 4,500 metric tons of coal spilled some of its cargo in the water just off sitio Talisay in barangay Macaboboni. Strong winds had pushed the ship to the shore December 18 last year.

Professor Nicanor Melecio, an environmentalist, who conducted an inspection of the affected area, said the coal spill is now slowly spreading to the town of Bolinao, north of Agno, and then to the Lingayen Gulf where it may cause greater damage to the marine environment.

The coal spill came from cargo ship “Aisner” owned by the Asian Shipping Company based at Dagat-Dagatan, in Metro Manila.

“Aisner” was battered by strong winds spawned by a typhoon on the third week of December, and ditched to the shore in sitio Talisay.

The ship’s load of coal may have already been transferred to other ships that were seen in the area sometime last month but the vessel itself is still there.

A report said that the vessel was carrying more or less 4,500 metric tons of coal and was enroute to Poro Point in San Fernando City, La Union from Semirara, Antique when the disaster happened.

The coal was consigned to the Philippine National Oil Company based in San Fernando City.

Melecio called on Mayor Leticia Rosete of Agno to initiate a legal against the owner of the vessel because the coal spill already badly affected the marine environment of Agno.

It has also already halted the livelihood of fishermen along the shore.

In a similar coal spill that happened in Bolinao about five years ago, the offending cargo ship was sued before the marine board and was made to pay a huge sum to the Bolinao Municipal government. Melecio said the municipal government may need fund to finance a costly coastal clean up of Agno as a result of the coal spill. (PNA)