THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated P45 million as emergency employment assistance to workers displaced by the oil spill caused by the sinking of the tanker MT Terranova in Ba-taan.
In a phone interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said they have initially allocated P45 million to cover at least 1,357 workers.
“Oil-spill-affected individuals in the province of Bataan have already been provided emergency employ-ment,” said Laguesma.
He said the worker-beneficiaries will work for 10 to 20 days under the program, tasked to help in gather-ing and collecting coconut husks to make oil spill booms.
Laguesma said they will also be assisting in the clean-up operations on the adverse effects of Typhoon Carina.
In turn, they will be paid the prevailing minimum wage rates in the region.
Last July 25, the MT Terranova sank off Limay, Bataan, spilling part of its 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil into the water.
DSWD AID
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is working with local government units (LGUs) on the provision of cash aid and other interventions to fisherfolks affected by the oil spill in Li-may, Bataan, according to Social Welfare Assistant Secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao.
Dumlao issued the statement as she assured the affected fisherfolks from Bataan and Cavite of the con-tinued assistance from the agency.
She said 10,000 family food packs have been distributed to those affected in Limay and Mariveles, Ba-taan and 25,000 to those affected in Cavite City, Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate in Cavite.
“This was the initial assistance extended but we are already discussing other interventions. Whether As-sistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations or Emergency Cash Transfer, or cash-for-work intervention,” she added
Dumlao said the DSWD continues to closely coordinate with the LGUs of Cavite and Bataan and other concerned offices for significant updates and augmentation requests.
Meanwhile, 5.4 million people or 1.5 million families from 4,530 barangays in 11 regions have been affected by typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or habagat as of yesterday.
There are still 2,811 families or 10,983 persons staying in 92 evacuation centers.
More than P348.5 million worth of assistance has been provided to those affected by the twin weather disturbance.
MOLASSES SPILL
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday reported a molasses spill in Sagay City, Negros Occidental but this is not expected to cause damage to the environment.
“It is very low in our priority because it is not a threat to the environment,” PCG commandant Admiral Ronniel Gil Gavan said.
“Molasses come from sugar so it’s not a (threat to the environment),” said Gavan, adding the PCG re-sponded to the incident because molasses causes discoloration in water.
Gavan said personnel from Coast Guard units have been sent to the area to address the concern.
The molasses spill occurred in the vicinity waters of Sagay Feeder port last Wednesday.
In a statement, the PCG said port personnel noticed discoloration in the waters around the vessel MT Queen of the Charity at 9 a.m.
“The 490-GT (gross tons) vessel was conducting shore-to-ship operations, from lorry truck loading mo-lasses to the ship. Approximately 300 metric tons of molasses were already loaded when the discolora-tion was monitored in the vicinity waters,” the PCG said.
Authorities have yet to determine the volume of molasses that spilled.
“Immediately, the Coast Guard response team instructed the master to discontinue the loading of mo-lasses while they assess the surrounding waters.,” the PCG said.
It said the PCG’s Marine Environmental Protection Unit was conducting water sampling and contain-ment and recovery operations as of yesterday afternoon.
The PCG said it has coordinated with the City Environment and Natural Resources and the concerned local government unit “for further measures.”
The PCG is still responding to the effects of mishaps in Bataan — the sinking of motor tankers Terranova and Jason Bradley and the grounding of MV Mirola Uno. — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Victor Reyes
