Agbayani also asked the company to give a report to the provincial government as regards the action it was taking, but the company failed to do so.

The barge LCT Eisner ran aground on December 18 last year, and about 300 cubic meter of coal spilled on the beach because of wave action. The residents claimed that the pollution caused by the coal drove away coral fishes which used to abound in the area.

Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis Jr. said that while the company is cleaning up the shore and trying to float the barge by transferring its contents to another barge, "we may still file a damage suit against the company."

"The government agencies will assess the damage which will be the basis for the suit," Solis said.

In a report to Agbayani, Nicanor Melecio, a consultant of the provincial government, said one side of the barge had been cut open to accommodate the landing platform of another barge named ASC Bigboy where the cargo is being transferred.

He said two tugboats were anchored beside ASC Bigboy.

"On the shore, about 500 bags of coal were piled up containing the coal that previously littered the shoreline. The residents were paid P15 per bag of retrieve coal by PNOC officials," Melecio said.

He noted that the barge Eisner was "definitely sitting on a coral shelf."

He said the mother of a two-year old boy had skin rashes on their faces, neck and stomach which could have been caused by the contaminated water. A 41-year old man also complained of pimple-like rashes on her body.