Solons call for collective action for Mindoro oil spill
SENATOR Nancy Binay urged the need for collective action from both government and non-government to resolve the negative effect of the recent massive oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.
Binay said Mindoro is known as the summer alternative for Boracay, considering that Holy Week is fast approaching and this destination has been known to be famous among local and international tourists during this time.
“Nakakalungkot din dahil maraming nag-cancel ng bookings ngayong Holy Week, at panibagong dagok na naman itong nangyari sa ating mga tourism workers na kababangon lang mula sa pandemic. Time is of the essesnce here, at kailangan ng collective action from both government and non-government groups na agapan na huwag nang lumala pa ang sitwasyon lalo na’t ilang libong pamilya at kabuhayan na ang apektado,” Binay said.
According to Binay, the negative impact has already affected nearby provinces, and she urged the government to ask for whatever help it can get to resolve this as soon as possible.
“Lubha nang nakakaalarma ang impact ng spillage, at mas nakakabahala pa dahil malaki ang posibilidad na umabot po ito sa Batangas at Palawan kung walang gagawing organized action. What we can do right away is to set into motion the assistance facilities of DSWD and activate the TUPAD program. Aside from the fisherfolks, we can tap displaced tourism workers, community-based organizations, and those livelihoods were affected to help in the cleanup and in setting up barriers to mitigate the environmental impact and public health risks. Hindi lang ito localized na problema – SOS call na ito,” Binay insisted.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who also expressed alarm over possible fish shortage and livelihood loss for the residents of Oriental Mindoro, explained that fishing is a primary source of livelihood in the affected area.
Locals fear more fishermen will bear the brunt as some 13,000 fisherfolks and their families in Mindoro alone have already been affected. Fish production is expected to decline in the coming months as the oil spill has now reached Antique and Palawan and could possibly reach Romblon and Aklan, where the country’s premier tourist destination of Boracay is located, Gatchalian bewailed.
Several tourism activities in the whole Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) region will likely be affected, which can deprive stakeholders of their livelihood. The oil spill also threatens to damage different forms of wildlife, including mangroves and seaweeds.
“It would take us some time to recover from the horrendous impact of this incident, not only on the environment and the livelihood of our people, including those in the tourism industry, and thus, we should extend whatever assistance we can give to help alleviate the plight of those affected by the oil spill,” Gatchalian pointed out.
Gatchalian visited the affected municipalities of Oriental Mindoro during relief operations on Friday. He is joined by Valenzuela City Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja and representatives from Valenzuela’s local DSWD, and donated sacks of rice worth P5 million to the municipalities of Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, Roxas, and Mansalay.
“Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon kailangan ng probinsya ng tulong natin. Pauna pa lamang ito sa mga tulong na ipapahatid natin sa mga apektadong residente na kadalasang bumabawi sa kita sa panahon ng summer kung saan dumarami ang mga turista,” said Gatchalian.
“Kailangang maging handa tayo sa lahat ng oras sa anumang pagkakataon. Sana natuto na tayo sa ganitong mga trahedya. Kailangang mayroon na tayong pangmalawakang contingency plan upang maiwasan na ang muling pagtagas at pagkalat ng langis sa ating mga karagatan na pumapatay sa ating kabuhayan,” he ended.
