Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 16) — The mayor of Puerto Galera said the local government will maintain the status quo on fishing and tourism activities in the town amid conflicting reports on water safety.
Mayor Rocky Ilagan has maintained that Puerto Galera is not affected by the oil slick based on the April 15 Summary of Effects of Oil Spill presented by the Office of the Civil Defense.
He also cited Department of Health (DOH) Officer-In-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire’s statement that the health agency is not recommending a ban on water activities in Puerto Galera due to inconclusive water safety test results.
The mayor quoted Vergeire saying that the government “has yet to have a standard on when to impose a swimming ban,” prompting the local official to declare a status quo for now.
“At present, the local government unit of Puerto Galera deems it prudent to maintain the status quo and to await for the official position of the Department of Health, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the inter-agency task force in order to verify the current data regarding the oil spill and to coordinate the proper measures to be taken regarding the incident,” Ilagan said Saturday night.
Earlier that day, Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor bared Puerto Galera failed four water quality tests due to the oil spill. He said he expects the DENR to recommend fishing and tourism bans in the popular tourist destination.
“As far as water quality is concerned sa dagat, sa saltwater, from Puerto Galera to Bulalacao, bagsak,” Dolor told reporters on Saturday. “Lumabas kagabi (Friday) ang pinakahuling resulta, ang Puerto Galera ay bagksak na ang water quality for four consecutive tests.”
[Translation: As far as water quality of the sea, the saltwater, is concerned, Puerto Galera to Bulalacao failed the tests. The latest results were released Friday night, Puerto Galera has failed in four consecutive water quality tests.]
While Dolor has the authority to implement fishing and tourism bans in Puerto Galera, he said he is opting to wait for DENR and the DOH’s position.
“However, before any declaration of any fishing ban, ban on any tourism activities, ang usapan ng DENR at kami, four consecutive tests. Ngayon lumabas na ito, so I ask the DENR and the DOH to come up with the official position, what’s next now that Puerto Galera has been found to have four consecutive tests with failure?”
[Translation: However, before any declaration of any fishing ban, ban on any tourism activities, the agreement between us and the DENR was to first conduct four consecutive tests. Now that the results have come out, I ask the DENR and the DOH to come up with an official position. What’s next now that Puerto Galera has failed four consecutive water quality tests?]
He also explained the failure in water quality tests meant swimming, fishing, diving, and water sports are deemed unsafe.
Puerto Galera, known for its dive sites and beaches, is at the northernmost part of Oriental Mindoro. It is also near the marine biodiversity hotspot Verde Island Passage.
The local government previously objected to declaring a state of calamity due to the oil spill caused by the sunken MT Princess Empress. Ilagan also reminded marine experts to be responsible in giving projections to avoid spreading fear after many tourists canceled their bookings in the municipality.
Last April 12, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco joined a scuba diving activity in the tourist spot to show that Puerto Galera “continues to be unaffected by the oil spill and it continues to open itself to tourism worldwide.”
Dolor disclosed that he already told Ilagan before the Holy Week, which was observed from April 2 to 8, that there were already two findings of “above normal level” of oil in water samples from Puerto Galera.
The governor refused to comment when asked if Puerto Galera officials should be held liable for not stopping tourists to go to the beach.
