TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered approximately 250 kilograms of oil-contaminated waste along the shoreline of Barangay Tugas in Tabango, Leyte, following an oil spill caused by a leaking underwater submarine cable owned by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
On Monday, November 9, 2026, personnel from the Marine Environmental Protection Unit-Western Leyte continued shoreline cleanup efforts, collecting an additional 50 kilograms of oil-soaked waste using specialized absorbent pads.
Containment Operations And Spill Response
The shoreline cleanup was launched after an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 liters of mineral oil leaked from the NGCP underwater submarine cable located in the coastal waters near the NGCP Tabango Substation.
In response to the environmental threat, joint operational units executed swift containment measures:
Multi-Unit Deployment: PCG personnel from Western Leyte, Ormoc, and Villaba stations collaborated with the Marine Environmental Protection Unit-Eastern Visayas to manage the spill.
Containment Booms & Absorbents: Responders deployed floating containment booms and absorbent materials offshore to prevent mineral oil slick from spreading deeper into the marine corridor.
Waste Management Protocol: Recovered hazardous materials were segregated, sealed in designated containers, and stored safely for disposal in accordance with national environmental regulations.
Protecting Local Coastal Ecosystems
Coast Guard officials confirmed that shoreline collection efforts will continue to remove residual oil film along the coast, aiming to minimize potential ecological harm to Tabango's coastal resources and local fishing grounds.
Meanwhile, energy regulators are monitoring the incident alongside ongoing investigations into the operational status and cause of the submarine cable leak.
