REPORT — The Third Rapid Assessment of Water Quality in Marine Protected Areas of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines: Monitoring Concentration of Oil and Grease in Pola, Pinamalayan, Calapan, Naujan, and Mansalay

Following the MT Princess Oil Spill last year, rapid assessments of the concentration of oil and grease in marine protected areas (MPAs) in Calapan, Naujan, and Mansalay, and in Pinamalayan and Pola in Oriental Mindoro Province were conducted in November 2023 and January 2024, respectively. The samples were collected along the water surface and were delivered to a DENR-accredited laboratory for testing. It was found out that all MPAs did not
comply with the water quality guidelines of DENR for the November 2023 assessment. On the other hand, only two MPAs in the January 2024 assessment were compliant with the water quality guidelines on oil and grease, specifically Ranzo Fish Sanctuary in Pinamalayan and St. Peter the Rock Fish Sanctuary in Pola. It was observed that there is a trend of decreased
concentration of oil and grease in the MPAs of Pola and Pinamalayan through time compared to existing data from CEED’s previous rapid water quality assessments conducted last July and September 2023. However, despite the decreasing trend, a trend of high oil and grease concentration that exceeds standards is observed all the same.