Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 8) — Oriental Mindoro will conduct a massive coastal cleanup on Friday as more people have fallen ill because of the oil spill.
Latest data from the provincial government showed an additional 25 oil spill related cases — bringing the total to 43.
“We cannot afford na madagdagan nang madagdagan (ang may sakit). Every day na lumilipas is calamitous,” Oriental Mindoro Gov. Bonz Dolor told a briefing Thursday.
[Translation: We cannot afford a further increase in cases. Every day that passes is calamitous.]
Dolor said he wanted to start immediately the massive cleanup on Friday, instead of Monday. It will be a concerted effort with various agencies, including the Health, Social Welfare, and Environment departments, he said.
This would also start temporary livelihood programs for affected families, especially in the 78 coastal barangays from nine Oriental Mindoro towns that have declared a state of calamity: Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao.
The slick was caused by the sunken MT Princess Empress, which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will hire residents for the cleanup efforts. They are from the list of representatives from the affected families. Others will be employed for the cash-for-work program.
So far, around 230 liters of floating oil and 76 drums of oil-contaminated debris that reached the shoreline have been collected.
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