The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that the BRP Hydrographer Ventura, which was mobilized on March 2, may have detected the possible site where MT Princess Empress is located. The site is approximately 400 meters below sea level, northeast of Pola, Oriental Mindoro, and is believed to have moved southeast from its last known position.

However, verification is needed and the DENR is preparing to access a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) to fully determine the vessel's location and model the way the oil will spill from the vessel.

The DENR has been actively mobilizing since Day 1 of the oil spill and has been coordinating with various response teams in Oriental Mindoro and Manila.

The DENR has three parallel workstreams to address the oil spill: disaster forensics in cooperation with National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) and University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), clean up, mitigation, and remediation which involves a multi-agency effort, and actual protection activities to protect habitats, ecosystems, and communities.

The DENR has also been closely coordinating with local government officials and UP-MSI on the possible use of this information in modeling the spread of the oil. The DENR has been in touch with local communities through its local Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENRO) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENRO), including operations teams on the ground in Mindoro Oriental and Antique.