UP Visayas is on board in responding to the oil spill crisis that struck Iloilo City and province and the province of Guimaras after a power barge operated by the energy arm of Filipino multinational company, Ayala Corp., spilled nearly 270,000 litres of bunker fuel off the coast of Iloilo City on July 3, 2020. Dr. Resurreccion Sadaba, a professor in Biology and whose expertise includes mangrove, beach forest and oil spill management, was invited as technical adviser of the Iloilo City Government in the management and assessment of the oil spill that has affected parts of Iloilo City, Buenavista Guimaras and some coastal towns of the province of Iloilo. Dr. Sadaba also headed the UP Visayas Oil Spill Response Team after oil tanker M/T Solar 1 hired by Petron Corporation sank off the coast of Taklong Island in Guimaras in 2006.

UPV scientist leads experts in responding to oil spill crisis. (2020, July 16). Daily Guardian, p. 2.