Japanese International Cooperation Agency News

The team of Japanese experts who flew into the country to help assess the the damage caused by the sinking of the M/T Solar 1 and the resulting oil spill said oil continues to leak out from the tanker, a statement from the Japanese embassy said Tuesday. In Guimaras, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza to conduct a full-blown inquiry into the August 11 sinking, which has led to widespread ecological damage and driven away tourists from the resorts of the island province. After a week of operations, the four-man Japan Disaster Relief Team recommended the continued and periodic aerial survey of the affected area to monitor any sudden changes in the amount of oil coming out of the tanker.