CITY OF CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro – One of the towns that were severely affected by the oil spill incident in this province has created a task force to pursue legal action against the owners of the sunken vessel, noting that the incident has wrecked the livelihood of fishers and resort owners as well as the marine resources.
Mayor Jennifer Cruz who heads the Task Force Pola, said they are serious about accounting for those responsible for the marine disaster.
MT Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank on Feb. 28 while en route to Iloilo province from Bataan after its engine overheated, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
Pola town is so far the hardest hit by the oil spill which has spread to as far as Antique province in the Visayas.
In a report Thursday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the Task Force Pola was activated so that the municipality could “pursue appropriate legal actions against the owner, operator or insurer of the ill-fated vessel in proper courts or administrative agencies for the damages incurred by the municipality from the oil spill incident.”
The PCG had earlier met with Cruz and representatives of concerned agencies.
Personnel from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) are currently conducting an assessment and fuel fingerprinting in the affected villages, the PCG said in its report to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
Cruz requested assistance from the PCG, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health and Philippine National Police in the conduct of assessments and gathering of evidence regarding the effects of the oil spill.
Meanwhile, the tourism sector of this province is not spared from the ill effects of the oil spill from the cargo vessel.
Don Stepherson Calda, provincial tourism officer, confirmed in a report that a number of would-be visitors have canceled reservations during what is supposed to be the peak season for tourists.
There are 15 Community-Based Sustainable Tourism Organizations (CBSTOs) with 750 members that are affected, the report added. These are in the towns of Naujan, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Roxas, Mansalay and Bulalacao.
Fifty-one tourism enterprises and 61 tourism attractions with a total of 327 workers are also affected, said Calda.
Likewise, he said 28 marine protected areas (MPAs) which also serve as tourism sites are affected in Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Mansalay and Bulalacao.
The provincial tourism office recommended financial and livelihood assistance and that members of tourism enterprises be included in the coastal clean-up where the Department of Labor and Employment will implement its cash for work program.
Calda said they will launch training for other means of livelihood, in addition to their continuing efforts to strengthen the tourism industry of the province.
"We focus on tourism activities in areas not affected by the oil spill. We also provide training intervention for land-based tourism for those affected," Calda told the Philippine News Agency on Friday. (PNA)
