President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he has instructed government agencies to carry out cleanup operation in connection with the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, assuring affected communities that the government will extend assistance particularly through the cash-for-work program.
“Ang aking instruction sa — well together, DOLE, DSWD, ‘yung cleanup. Kasi ‘yung mga mangingisda, hindi makapangisda ngayon, bawal mangisda at kaya’t wala silang hanapbuhay. Pinalitan natin ng cash-for-work program dahil sila ngayon ang maglilinis,” President Marcos said during a media interview on the sidelines of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo launching in Quezon City.
“At binabantayan namin nang husto, lahat naman, hindi lamang pamahalaan kung hindi na pati na ang mga private corporations na mayroong equipment, pati na ang Japan na nagpadala ng tulong at ito’y malaking bagay upang ‘yung langis na hindi pa umaabot sa lupa ay puwede na natin harangin,” the President pointed out.
The good thing, Marcos said, is that authorities were able to locate the sunken tanker that has been leaking oil, enabling them to predict the direction of the oil spill.
In the meantime, the government is monitoring fishing sanctuaries and tourist areas, and will immediately carry out cleanup drive if they detected any presence of oil along the shoreline.
“‘Yun ay talagang babantayan natin at kung mangyari na abutan talaga doon — pumunta sa lupa, sa shoreline ang langis ay talagang maglalagay, gagawa tayo ng programa para ng pag-cleanup para makabalik sa trabaho lahat ng tiga-roon,” the chief executive said.
“But in the meantime, habang wala pa they are engaged in the cash-for-work program sa cleanup. Pag natapos na ‘yun, puwede na sila mangisda ulit. Puwede silang bumalik sa trabaho nila,” the President added.
President Marcos hopes that through the current efforts, the oil spill could be contained so that the conditions in the affected communities could normalize soon.
It was reported that eight more towns in the province of Oriental Mindoro were placed under a state of calamity early this week to help authorities extend aid to communities affected by the oil spill.
The sinking of tanker MT Princess Empress resulted in the spillage of thick industrial oil, posing health hazards to affected residents and disrupting the livelihood of fishermen as well as owners of resorts and other business establishments.
Local authorities had said the oil spill seriously affected Oriental Mindoro’s marine protected areas. (PND)
