(PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday advised residents of oil-spill affected areas in Oriental Mindoro province to wear appropriate face masks and to drink water only from safe sources.
In a media forum, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire reported that the collection of samples from the various sources of water in the area has just started.
“Wala pa hong lumalabas na resulta ng tests, ‘yung test po na ginawa ng DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] at Philippine Coast Guard para malaman ‘yung mga kemikal na nandoon sa shorelines hindi pa ho lumalabas ‘yun (The result of the test conducted by the DENR and the PCG to identify the chemicals near shorelines is not yet available),” she said.
Consequently, the DOH guided the municipal health officers and local officials in classifying the residents based on their location - those living within 100 meters and 500 meters from the affected area.
Vergeire said residents living within 100 meters from the affected area need to be supplied with safe drinking water by their local government.
“Hindi pwedeng surgical mask lang ang gamit nila, kailangan ‘yung industrial mask na binigay namin ang gagamitin nila (They can’t wear surgical masks, they must use the industrial masks we’ve provided),” she said.
Elderlies and individuals with lung problems who are living within the 100 meters must be relocated or stay with their relatives who reside far from the affected area.
Earlier, the DOH reported some residents near the oil-hit areas have experienced headaches and difficulty in breathing.
“Yung na-admit, naka-recover siya within that day also, recovered naman ‘yung kaniyang atake ng hika at siya ay kinabukasan nakauwi na rin (The one who had asthma attack and was admitted in a hospital has already recovered and went home the following day),” Vergeire said.
On Feb. 28, MT Princess Empress, a tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil capsized and caused a spill in the waters of Oriental Mindoro.
Government agencies have been coordinating to contain the oil spill and prevent environmental damage and address the health concerns of residents in the area. (PNA)
