Cavite, Philippines — Residents in Noveleta, Cavite recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Carina and southwest monsoon face new challenges, as an oil spill potentially threatens their health and livelihood.
JR De Asis, a fisherman from barangay San Rafael IV, said he recently lost the roof of his home from the typhoon.
He now fears losing his only source of income because of a fishing ban, triggered by the oil spill.
On Tuesday, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla placed Noveleta and seven other towns under a state of calamity because of the oil spill that supposedly came from the sunken tanker off Limay, Bataan. Fishermen were then told not to catch shellfish.
“Iyon lang ang naman alam ko na hanapbuhay. Bata pa kasi ako lumalalot na ako e. Tapos iyan pa nangyari,” he told NewsWatch Plus.
[Translation: That’s the only job I know. I’ve been fishing since I was a kid. And yet, the spill happened.]
Like JR, Joan Laurel who depends on drying fish for income, is worried how to make ends meet.
“50-50 na kami ngayon. Kung hindi kami kakapit sa pautangan eh di rin kami kakain,” she said.
[We’re at a 50-50 situation now. If we don’t rely on loans, we might not be able to eat]
Aside from the impact on their livelihood, Joan is also worried about the health risks of the oil slick.
“Masakit po sa dibdib. Nagtatae lahat ng bata, pati po kami dahil sa amoy po,” she told NewsWatch Plus.
[Translation: It’s painful to the chest. The children and I are suffering from diarrhea because of the smell.]
Remulla said the Cavite government plans to provide relief goods for over 25,000 fisherfolks.
The Philippine Coast Guard said it is awaiting water sampling results to determine if the slick off Cavite waters is from the sunken MTKR Terranova.
“We do not hide kung ano po ‘yung nakikita natin du’n, at ‘yung mga reports in shoreline po ng Cavite has also been confirmed na po. May mga oil sheen and oil spill po na na nakita du’n. Nagka-conduct na po ng coordination ang Coast Guard Station Cavite,” said Bataan Coast Guard Station Lieutenant Commander Michael John Encina.
[Translation: We do not hide what we see there, and the reports from the Cavite shoreline have also been confirmed. Oil sheen and oil spills have been observed. The Coast Guard Station Cavite has already conducted coordination efforts.]
