Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 26) — The fishing ban covering Naujan and Pinamalayan towns in Oriental Mindoro has been lifted, Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor announced on Monday.
“Puwede na pong mangisda mula bayan ng Naujan hanggang Puerto Galera at mula bayan ng Pinamalayan hanggang Bulalacao,” Dolor told a press briefing.
“Kaalinsabay nito, nili-lift natin ang lahat ng ban on water sports activities sa bayan ng Naujan at sa bayan ng Pinamalayan. Ibig sabihin, ang turismo at pangisdaan ay full blast mula sa Naujan to Puerto Galera, at mula Pinamalayan hanggang Bulalacao,” he added.
[Translation: Fishing is allowed from towns of Naujan to Puerto Galera, and Pinamalayan to Bulalacao. Along with this, we are also lifting the ban on water sports activities in Naujan and Pinamalayan. This means, tourism and fishing are on full blast in these areas.]
But the ban is retained over Pola as it remains to be “unsuitable” for fishing, Dolor said, citing the report of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
He added authorities will monitor the town’s water for the next two weeks, with BFAR expected to issue weekly reports.
“Sana sa pag-aaral nito, dahil nakuha na ‘yong oil, sana bumaba na ‘yong level ng PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) sa bayan ng Pola para kahit ‘yong Pola ma-lift na natin [ang ban],” the governor said.
[Translation: We hope that in these studies, since the oil has already been removed, PAH level in Pola will go down so that we can lift the ban on the town.]
Dolor said the changes in the fishing ban were coordinated with BFAR and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
On June 23, DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines member Hernando Bacosa recommended the radius of the fishing ban area be reduced to 5 kilometers from 15 kilometers. Pola is within the five-kilometer radius from the “ground zero” of the oil spill.
Local disaster management officials have also certified coastal areas in the province as “100% acceptably clean,” Dolor said, meaning no presence of oil and grease is seen on sand and rocks in the coasts.
Over a week ago, the Philippine Coast Guard announced oil siphoning operations in the sunken MT Princess Empress were completed.
The vessel, which was carrying 900,00 liters of industrial fuel oil, capsized in waters off Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28 then completely sank the next day.
It caused a huge oil spill that affected the livelihood of thousands of fisherfolk.
Latest figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council show 27,850 fisherfolk were affected, with production loss valued at nearly ₱5 billion.
To continue in its effort to help affected fishers, local government units are set to conduct the payout of the second tranche of the emergency cash transfer starting June 29, Dolor said.
Officials from Bulalacao, Calapan, Gloria, and Mansalay have yet to confirm their schedules, he noted.
After the emergency cash transfers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will then do payouts for the remaining 15 days of the cash-for-work program, the governor added.
