Coast Guard probes environmental impact of mineral oil leak off Leyte

Posted on November 10, 2026 at 10:25 PM

Tacloban City — Laboratory tests are expected to determine whether an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 liters of mineral oil that leaked from an underwater cable off Tabango, Leyte, caused contamination in nearby coastal waters.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has collected water samples from the affected area following the leak from an underwater cable owned by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

LTJG Mart Andrew C. Mangolare, station commander of Coast Guard Station Western Leyte and public information officer of Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas, told The Vanguard that the samples are undergoing laboratory examination to establish the extent of possible contamination.

The leak was reported off Barangay Tugas in Tabango. The cable uses mineral oil as a cooling fluid.

Mangolare said the Coast Guard received a report about the incident from the Maritime Environmental Protection Unit-Eastern Visayas on November 4 and deployed response teams the following day. The spill was contained on November 5 using oil spill containment booms and absorbent materials.

He said the incident did not affect marine life, mangroves, coral reefs, fishing grounds or the livelihoods of fishermen in the area.

No fishing ban or precautionary restrictions were imposed following the incident, he added.

The laboratory findings are expected to provide a clearer picture of the leak’s possible environmental impact and help determine whether further monitoring or rehabilitation measures are necessary.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard has issued a notice of violation in connection with the incident. Mangolare said a hearing is expected to be held next week.

Mangolare said the leak was attributed to the age of the underwater cable, while a minor earthquake in Cebu was also being considered as a possible contributing factor.

NGCP has committed to assist in addressing the incident, with repair work on the damaged cable starting on November 8, he added.

Personnel from Coast Guard Station Western Leyte, Coast Guard Sub-Station Ormoc, Coast Guard Sub-Station Villaba and the Maritime Environmental Protection Unit-Eastern Visayas participated in the containment operation.

The PCG said the immediate deployment of personnel and specialized equipment, along with coordination with NGCP, helped prevent the leaked mineral oil from spreading further into nearby coastal waters.

Photo Courtesy: PCG District Eastern Visayas