Mindoro oil spill ruins nearly P1 billion in livelihood sources
OCULAR INSPECTION | President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads a situation briefing on the oil spill and distribution of various assistance to at least 1,200 beneficiaries in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, on Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Photo from Philippine News Agency)
MANILA, Philippines — The damage and cost to people’s livelihood of the Feb. 28 oil spill off eastern Oriental Mindoro now amount close to P1 billion, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the province on Saturday morning.
The president conducted an aerial inspection of the coastline in Oriental Mindoro, which was affected by the oil spill after the MT Princess Empress sank in waters off Naujan and Pola towns.
In a meeting with local and national officials in Pola, the president conceded that the cleanup of the oil spill may take some time so the government is looking for other long-term sources of livelihood for Oriental Mindoro residents.
Marcos ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to discuss with local chief executives possible alternative fishing grounds where fisherfolk from Oriental Mindoro could fish.
Press Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said the four alternative fishing sites include Mindoro Strait between Mindoro island and Batangas province, Cuyo Pass between Panay and Cuyo islands, unaffected waters of Tablas Strait where the oil tanker sank, and even as far as Tayabas Bay between Quezon and Marinduque island.
Recovery initiatives
But the chief executive reminded officials not to limit their recovery programs to fishing and make ways to provide other means of livelihood.
He said the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Social Welfare and Development were among the lead agencies providing aid, livelihood assistance, as well as seed money and training for owners of small businesses.
The Department of Labor and Employment, through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, also has many plans for the province under its recovery initiatives, the Chief Executive said.
The president said “the immediate danger” and “the immediate situation has already been attended to,” prompting government agencies to now revive economic activities in the affected areas.
Teaching new skills
In his speech during the distribution of various government assistance in Pola, Marcos said Tesda had started programs for affected fisherfolk to teach them new skills while they were not yet allowed to go fishing.
He assured affected residents that the national government will continue to help affected communities as he led the distribution of government aid, such as fishing boats, fish smoking machines, and relief packs, to the residents of Pola.
In a statement, the BFAR said the oil spill has damaged P445.33-million fishing gear, paraphernalia, and produce, which resulted in a P441.25-million loss for 26,000 fisherfolk during 22 fishing days. The BFAR said the oil spill has affected areas in the regions of Western Visayas, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.
The BFAR said three seaweed samples taken from the municipality of Caluya in Antique “showed the presence of petroleum-related products” but 86 fish and other marine samples collected from March 10 to March 11 from seven municipalities in Mindoro “did not show the presence of petroleum-related products.”
