THE recent oil spill incident in Oriental Mindoro might spoil vacation plans including mine in Puerto Galera.

Latest reports indicated the oil spill has already affected several areas of the province and that it might reach Verde Islands, a protected area.

Verde Island is located between Batangas province and Puerto Galera.

The possible impact of the oil spill is bigger than one might think. The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) estimated that 20,000 hectares of coral reef, nearly 10,000 hectares of mangroves, and 6,000 hectares of seagrass are at risk in 21 municipalities across Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Antique.

Among these are Calapan, Puerto Galera, and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro; San Jose in Occidental Mindoro; and Coron in Palawan.

In an earlier bulletin, the UP-MSI said the spill might reach the southern tip of Mindoro in a matter of days, given the direction of the wind and waves.

Meanwhile, government agencies are busy addressing the problem. President Marcos earlier appealed for state departments to help ensure that help is extended to victims.

In reponse, state pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has earmarked P315 million in emergency loan for members and pensioners who were affected by the oil spill that emanated from a motor tanker that capsized off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro last February 28.

The oil spill has affected more than half of Oriental Mindoro. “With our emergency loan program, we hope to alleviate the plight of nearly 13,000 GSIS members who are working or residing in the affected areas and pensioners who reside there,” President and General Manager Wick Veloso said.

GSIS has allocated a total budget of P6.2 billion for its emergency loan program for the year.

The municipalities of Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, and Roxas in Oriental Mindoro have been declared under a state of calamity. Upon receipt of the required documents from the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro, GSIS will open the emergency loan to affected 11,024 active members, and 1,896 old-age and disability pensioners.

“We are closely monitoring the situation for developments. Should the Oriental Mindoro oil spill further spread and affect other towns and provinces, we assure members and pensioners in said areas that GSIS is ready to open the emergency loan program once a state of calamity declaration has been done and required documents have been submitted to GSIS,” Veloso added.

Qualified to apply are members in active service and not on leave of absence without pay; have at least three months of paid premiums within the last six months prior to application; have no pending administrative or criminal case; have no due and demandable loan; and have a net take-home pay of not lower than P5,000 after all required monthly obligations have been deducted.

Old-age and disability pensioners are also qualified to apply if their resulting net monthly take-home pension after loan availment is at least 25% of their basic monthly pension.

Members with existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P40,000 to pay off their previous emergency loan balance and still receive a maximum net amount of Php20,000. Meanwhile, pensioners and those without existing emergency loan may apply for a P20,000 loan.

The loan is payable in three years or 36 equal monthly installments at an interest rate of 6% per annum.

In a related development, the government is looking at tapping Japan to help contain the rapidly spreading oil spill in Mindoro.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista revealed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is working with relevant agencies to contain and recover the slick but the spill has already reached another area in the province.

A PCG report also said the oil leak was starting to affect three villages in Caluya, Antique.

“We’re looking at asking the Japanese government for help because I was told that it has the capacity to assist us,” Bautista said.

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