THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has identified 10 alternative fishing grounds for Oriental Mindoro fishermen affected by the oil spill caused by the February 28 sinking of the oil tanker MV Princess Empress.
In a statement, the DILG said the department and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will soon issue a joint memorandum circular on the sharing of fishing grounds with the affected Oriental Mindoro fishermen.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has recommended to President Marcos Jr. the sharing of fishing areas to those affected by the oil spill after a dialogue with local government units.
“The DILG and BFAR will adopt a cluster approach to ensure that all affected fisherfolks will have a place to go and congestion in one fishing area will be avoided,” said Abalos.
Abalos said fishermen from San Teodoro and Baco towns may fish in the municipal waters of Paluan and Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro; Tayabas Bay and Mindoro Strait.
Fishermen from Calapan City and Naujan and Pola towns may fish in the municipal waters of Boac and Gasan in Marinduque and Tayabas Bay while fishermen from Pinamalayan, Gloria and Bansud towns can fish at the municipal waters of Concepcion in Romblon and portions of Mindoro Strait.
Fishermen from Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay and Bulalacan can fish in Tablas Strait and in the municipal waters of San Jose and Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro.
“As soon as the fish samples are okay and there is no more contamination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the affected areas of Oriental Mindoro, the fishe rfolks can do their fishing activities in their own territorial waters,” he said.
MT Princess Empress sank off Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro after encountering engine trouble due to overheating. It was transporting more than 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil to Iloilo, from Bataan, at that time.
The PCG is continuing its shoreline and offshore oil spill cleanup.
In a radio interview yesterday, PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Armand Balilo said the shoreline cleanup is about 80 percent complete.
“Offshore, we’re already seeing minimal oil spill,” said Balilo, adding authorities are preparing to siphoning off the remaining oil in the sunken vessel.
DA SLAMMED
Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva yesterday slammed the Department of Agriculture for its lack of ability to test if the waters in areas of Oriental Mindoro are safe for fishing.
Villanueva made the observation as he visited Naujan in Oriental Mindoro to extend assistance to families affected by the recent oil spill.
He said the DA, headed by President Marcos Jr., plays “a very important role” in Oriental Mindoro since 62 percent of its residents are dependent on the agriculture sector, but the agency was “too slow” with the way it responded to the situation.
“It’s unfortunate for me to say that the Department of Agriculture is passive. I’m sorry to say that. But if you look at the records, I’ve been monitoring the past weeks, and then I witnessed that in person how they responded, etc. They are too slow,” Villanueva said in an interview in Oriental Mindoro.
“Imagine, we do not have our own equipment for testing and we need to bring the samples to the private sector for testing. I cannot understand it. So, that is one of the things that we really need to address,” he added.
He said the DA had always been given enough budget for its needs but it is known for a low budget utilization.
Villanueva said he will bring these problems up in the next budget cycle.
“So, this is a learning experience for me and at the same time very helpful as a policymaker and as representative of your Senate,” he said.
Villanueva thanked the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for holding special skills trainings for affected residents so they can put up their own businesses while authorities are cleaning up the oil spill. — With Raymond Africa
