Senator Villar Urges Aid for Residents Affected by Oriental Mindoro Oil Spill

Senator Cynthia Villar has urged for aid to be given to residents who have been impacted by the oil spill caused by the sinking of MT Empress Princess off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on February 28. Villar, who presides over the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, stated during a hearing that the oil spill is expected to cause more damage than the 2006 Guimaras oil spill, which is considered to be the worst oil spill in the country’s history.

During the hearing, Villar requested assistance reports from various government agencies including the Office of Civil Defense, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Villar wanted to know about the measures taken to contain and clean up the oil spill, as well as the assistance given to affected residents who have lost their sources of income.

NDRMMC Asec. Bernardo Alejandro reported to the committee that a task force had been established to assist the DENR and the PCG in oil spill containment, cleanup and emergency response. Alejandro provided updates on the oil spill, stating that it has affected 70 areas in the region, with 122 people reported to have been ill due to the incident. Around 22,000 families in 118 barangays in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan were also affected, including 13,588 fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro.

Villar emphasized that the Oriental Mindoro oil spill will have significant negative impacts on the marine ecosystem and biodiversity, fisheries and food supply, livelihood of the people, especially the fisherfolks, health of the people, and tourism industry in the affected areas. She also pointed out that the oil spill poses a threat to about 21 locally-managed marine protected areas, including the Verde Island Passage, which is expected to become a legislated protected area as “the center of the global-shore fish biodiversity.”

Villar and Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda requested that government agencies report to the committee the cost of assistance and activities provided so far, as well as the resources required to continue their operations in affected areas. Villar also stated that it is unjust for residents of the affected provinces and municipalities in MIMAROPA and Region 6 to be subjected to additional hardships because of the oil spill, particularly when they are still recovering from the pandemic.