ODIONGAN, Romblon (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. conducted an aerial inspection on the coast of Oriental Mindoro affected by the oil spill on Saturday, April 15.
The president was accompanied by several Philippine Coast Guard officers and Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor.
The President intends to personally know the effect of the oil spill in the province.
After the aerial inspection, the President conducted a situation briefing with the mayor of Pola to find out the damage caused by the oil spill in their town and to coordinate government response.
During the briefing, the President has instructed Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. to talk to the governors and the mayors of the areas affected by the oil spill to help them find an alternative fishing ground.
The four alternative fishing sites in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) and in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) include Mindoro Strait in Mindoro Oriental, Cuyo Pass in Batangas, Tablas Strait in Romblon, and Tayabas Bay in Quezon.
Aside from alternative fishing ground, there are also livelihood programs laid out by the government for residents of Oriental Mindoro, whose income and businesses are affected by the oil spill.
“So the oil spill, we are at the mercy of the weather. At the mercy… Buti na nga nag-amihan na, medyo — hindi na… ‘Yung inaalala natin na talagang papasok ay hindi naman masyado. Ngunit, may tama pa rin and there are many affected barangays. And that’s what we are trying to do. We are trying to find alternative livelihood for them until they can go back to their old fishing grounds,” President Marcos Jr. said when interviewed by journalists in the town of Pola.
On Saturday, the President also led the distribution of government assistance to families and fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro. (PJF/PIA MIMAROPA)
