DESERTED Fishing boats are left idle along the shoreline of Pola, Oriental Mindoro in this photo taken on Thursday, March 9, 2023, following the widespread oil spill that affects the livelihood of local fishermen. PHOTO COURTESY OF NOEL GUEVARA OF GREENPEACE
MANILA, Philippines — The owner of MT Princess Empress — the oil tanker with 800,000 of industrial fuel oil submerged in Oriental Mindoro — has apologized for the oil spill, which now reached the Palawan area.
“We are truly sorry that this incident has affected the livelihoods of those living in the impacted areas and the spill’s effect on the environment.
“We are committed to doing everything possible to minimize the ongoing impact on the environment and people’s lives and clean up the spill,” the RDC Reield Marine Services said in a statement on Sunday.
The company said their “primary focus at this stage” remains on the oil spill response done at different phases.
“We are working closely with our insurers, and those affected by the spill will be duly advised on how to submit their claims for processing,” the company further said. “We must, however, emphasize that the immediate priority has to be the coastal clean-up, which directly impacts the lives of the communities who depend on the sea.”
The oil spill from an oil tanker that sank off the waters of Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro has now reached the shores of Palawan as of Thursday.
In Oriental Mindoro, fishermen and other residents relying on the sea for their living were most affected by the oil spill.
READ: Mindoro oil spill victims reach 19,000
Aside from the company, the Philippine Coast Guard takes the lead in the clearing operations after the oil spill with the Japanese Coast Guard also extending assistance.