Fishing ban in Oriental Mindoro stays — Gov. Dolor

Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor on Tuesday said he approved the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) to continue suspending fishing activities amid the oil spill in the province.

Dolor said the continuous suspension of fishing activities was implemented for the safety of the residents in the province despite the BFAR finding low-level contaminants or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the fish samples from the areas affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro.

“Announcement lang po sa ating mga mamamayan bagama't gustong gusto na po na i-lift ang fishing ban lalo na sa mga areas na walang oil sa shoreline kaya lang po ayon na rin sa rekomendasyon ng BFAR hindi pa po safe ito for human consumption dahil nag-aaccumulate po yung contamination sa flesh ng marine life,” he said at a press briefing.

(Announcement to our residents, although we really want to lift the fishing ban, especially in areas without oil on the shoreline, however, according to the recommendation of the BFAR, it's not safe for human consumption because the contamination is accumulating in the flesh of marine life.)

The BFAR said it collected fish samples from the municipalities of Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Bansud, Gloria, Roxas, Mansalay, Bongabong, and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro to determine if seafood is safe for public consumption and if fishing bans should be imposed or lifted by the local government units (LGUs) concerned.

It added that it will continuously analyze water and fish samples in affected areas to monitor the possible spread of contamination and determine the extent of damage caused by the oil spill in the fishery sector.

The fishing ban was imposed in the first week of March following the massive oil leak from the submerged MT Princess Empress. The motor tanker sank on February 28 while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel. All 20 people onboard were rescued.

Meanwhile, the Oriental Mindoro governor said around 17,071 families have participated in the cash-for-work program.

“17,071 families ang kasalukuyang naga-undergo ng ating cash for work programs tulad ng collection ng mga local materials para sa pagpe-prepare ng spill boom; production proper ng spill boom; clearing ng mga lupa para doon sa project na community garden; ganun din po nag-aassist sila ng loading and unloading ng food packs; clearing ng ground community parks; at syempre the cleaning of canals and roads,” he said.

(A total of 17,071 families are currently participating in our cash for work programs such as the collection of local materials for the preparation of the oil spill boom; production proper of the oil spill boom; clearing of land for the community garden project; they also assist with the loading and unloading of food packs; clearing of ground community parks; and of course the cleaning of canals and roads.)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it has collected 6,803 liters of oily water mixture and 65 sacks of oil-contaminated materials during its offshore response operations for the oil spill.—AOL, GMA Integrated News