REEF CHRIST. The Shrine of the Ridge to Reef Cross, which is made from corals and other reef materials, waits to be installed in the ground zero of the oil spill in Pola town, Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday, April 4, to help people remember the threat of the slick that affected many coastal towns in the province, Palawan, Batangas and Antique.
Photo courtesy of Mayor Jennifer Cruz.
CITY OF CALAPAN — The Philippine Coast Guard reported on Tuesday night (April 4) that it collected 15,933 liters of oily water and 180 sacks of oil-tainted materials during its oil spill cleanup efforts.
For shoreline response, the PCG collected 180 sacks of oil-contaminated materials, bringing to 4,706 sacks and 22 drums the total of wastes collected in 13 affected barangays in Naujan, Bulalacao, and Pola, Oriental Mindoro, from March 1 to April 4.
The oil spill was from tanker MT Princess Empress carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel when it sank off Oriental Mindoro on February 28.
Meanwhile, Pola town Mayor Jennifer Cruz said in a social media post the Shrine of the Ridge to Reef Cross was installed on Tuesday in the ground zero of the oil spill.
The lot in Barangay Pahilahan, Pola, where the cross stands, was donated by Marilyn Biscocho.
“This Cross reminds us to be persistently protecting and preserving our natural resources for the next generation to come,” Cruz said.
She said that as they lifted the cross of Jesus Christ, dubbed “Kristo ng Kalikasan” (Christ of the Environment), at the ceremony on Tuesday morning, it symbolically meant the rise of Pola from the impact of the oil spill.
On the cross, a plaque says the “Sacred Cross of the Lord resembling the Ridge to Reef Integrated approach to foster volunteerism and active participation in conserving and preserving natural resources. The upland environment emphasizes the interconnections between the natural and social systems from the mountain ridges of watersheds and habitats through coastal lands across rivers and lakes into a fringing reef environment. The cross commemorates the Oil Spill Tragedy from the sunken boat MT Princess Empress on February 28, 2023 at the municipal waters of Pola, Balingawan Point, that affected the seven Marine Protected Areas in Pola town.
These are St. John the Baptist Fish Sanctuary, St. Peter the Rock Fish Sanctuary, San Isidro Labrador Fish Sanctuary, Stella Mariz Fish Sanctuary, and Kingfisher Marine Reserve, including the 11 coastal barangays composed of 4,495 families, fishermen and fish workers.”
“We are meant to be stewards of creation.. whatever happens to it lies in our hands.. let us continue to be united and work together…,” said Cruz.
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