THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday said it has contained the massive oil spill caused by the sinking of oil tanker MT Princess Empress in Oriental Mindoro last February 28 after installing an oil spill boom near the sunken vessel.
Rear Adm. Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said their personnel have been attempting to install the boom over the past days since the sunken ship was located off Pola town last Monday but were held back by huge waves.
He said they finally managed to install the boom despite rough sea conditions last Wednesday.
“Finally, we had a window and we were able to install it in the area where oil was being spilled. We were able to contain it… We now have an oil spill boom in the area and we’re able to monitor the oil being spilt,” said Balilo, adding: “We targeted the source, the area where it sank.”
In a statement, the PCG also said efforts are continuing to contain industrial fuel oil slick that has reached other areas, including in Naujan where the vessel, containing 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, initially sank.
PCG vessels, aided by civilian vessels hired by the owner of the sunken ship, continue to apply oil dispersants to affected areas.
It said the Pola town government will create the Task Force Pola “to pursue appropriate legal actions against the owner, operator, or insurer of MT Princess Empress in proper courts or administrative agencies for the damages they incurred.”
Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor said they are launching a massive cleanup in the shorelines of affected areas. At least 77 coastal barangays of nine towns in the province have been affected and placed under a state of calamity last Monday.
PCG officials discussed with Dolor and other local government officials the oil spill response during a meeting last Wednesday.
“The officials have agreed to hire one person per family in all affected coastal municipalities under the ‘cash for work’ program. There will also be a massive and simultaneous shoreline clean-up on Friday,” the PCG said.
Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz said the effects of the oil spill in Pola seems to be worsening.
“The foul smell has gone worse, many are falling ill,” said Cruz, adding more than 50 residents are showing symptoms of oil spill-related illnesses, including coughing, chest pains, and severe headaches, among others.
Ten families, composed of about 40 persons, have been evacuated in Caluya, Antique “due to intolerable odors that come from the oil spill along the shorelines in the island,” the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
Japanese oil control experts are set to assist authorities in ongoing efforts to control the oil spill that continues to affect residents and pose damage to 36,000 hectares of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass.
Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko said the team is composed of experts from the Japanese Coast Guard.
“JCG oil control experts are on the way! In coordination with the Philippine government, Japan will send a Disaster Relief Expert Team on oil removal and control to support ongoing efforts in response to the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro,” Kazujiko said in a tweet. “We are one with you in these trying times.”
In response, Cruz said: “They have yet to arrive but we will wait for them. But while we are waiting, we will continue the cleanup in tandem with the Coast Guard.”
Cruz said the Department of Labor and Employment has coordinated with town officials to hire fisher folks affected by the oil spill.
Cruz said one person per family will be hired for 15 days and will be paid P320 per day. She said there are at least 1,000 to 2,000 persons qualified under the program.
She also reported that the sister-in-law of the vessel’s owner reached out to the town last Wednesday to offer assistance in the form of relief goods.
Cruz said she declined the offer “because I am not allowed to accept donation(s) from them right now,” adding that government agencies are attending to the needs of her constituents.
“I told them why now, it’s too late. They should have helped us when we needed the help most. It’s been nine days (since the vessel sank). Why did they go here only now to offer help?” she said.
Cruz said the town is coordinating with provincial officials in pursuing legal actions against the owner of MT Princess Empress.
“We are going to seek advice from our governor and congressman on what advice they can give to Pola,” said Cruz.
The oil spill prompted local authorities to ban fishing and swimming in contaminated waters in 78 coastal barangays from nine Oriental Mindoro towns that have declared a state of calamity, namely, Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao
DSWD AID
The DSWD- Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) said 2,700 additional family food packs have been delivered to Caluya.
DSWD-DROMIC data showed that as of March 9, a total of 25,197 families or 112,092 persons from 118 barangays in Regions IV-B (Mimaropa) and VI (Western Visayas) have been affected by the oil spill.
A total of P5.48 million worth of assistance had been provided to the affected families while a standby fund and stockpile worth P2.14 billion is ready for distribution where and when needed.
Ten thousand workers displaced by the massive oil spill are now being eyed as beneficiaries of the emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a phone interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said they are looking to provide emergency employment assistance to at least 10,000 workers displaced by the mishap.
“Around 10,000 individuals will be expected as beneficiaries,” said Laguesma. “The profiling of affected individuals is almost complete, with the final list of beneficiaries to be submitted within this week.”
He said secondary affected families, such as ambulant and market stall fish vendors and employees of beach resorts, will also be provided assistance.
“Clean-up activities (will be offered) principally so the oil spill can be addressed at the soonest time possible. This can be (offered) to both principal and secondary beneficiaries,” said Laguesma.
He said the emergency employment will be provided for 10 to 30 days with prescribed personal protective equipment (PPEs) to be provided.
Laguesma said more than P100 million is being allocated for the cash-for-work program.
CARITAS HELPS
Caritas Philippines is sending assistance to families affected by the oil spill, according to Calapan Diocesan Social Action Center (DSAC) Director Fr. Edwin Gariguez.
In a social media post, Gariguez said food assistance is set to be sent to affected families, particularly those who are “unreached” by government assistance.
“Caritas Philippines has committed to support 250 affected families with food packs that will be made available to the unreached and most needy affected coastal communities,” said Gariguez.
He said the list of beneficiaries will be finalized during a meeting with the affected parishes. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Ashzel Hachero, and Gerard Naval
