Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 8) – Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor on Monday announced the lifting of fishing bans in some towns of the oil spill-affected province.
The towns are Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao.
Dolor clarified that local fisherfolks are still prohibited from catching shellfish and crustaceans.
“Linilinaw ko na isda lang ang pwedeng hulihin dahil ito palang ang napatunayang ligtas,” Dolor told reporters on Monday.
[Translation: I am clarifying that fisherfolks can only catch fish because these have proven to be safe.]
He also said the towns of Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan and Pola, which still have fishing bans in effect, are free to fish in the waters of Roxas, Bongabong, Mansalay and Bulalacao in the meantime.
He added that Calapan City and Naujan, where fishing bans are still in effect, are free to temporarily fish in the waters of Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera.
What does this entail?
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Office of Civil Defense will distribute fuel subsidies to aid the 13,701 fisherfolk, Dolor said.
“Ito yung mga small-engine fisherfolk, ang commercial fishermen, commercial vessel,” the governor said. “Dahil naapektuhan din ang mga hindi registrado, kailangan din natin silang tulungan.”
[Translation: These are small-engine fisherfolk, commercial fishermen and commercial vessels. And because unregistered fisherfolk are also affected, we must also help them.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development will distribute cash assistance equivalent to 75% of the locals’ daily wage.
“Ititigil na po yung cash-for-work program natin. Ilipiat na natin yung assistance to emergency cash transfer [program],” Dolor said.
[Translation: The cash-for-work program will be terminated. We will shift the assistance to the emergency cash transfer program.]
He added that the distribution of food packs and salaries under the cash-for-work program will end on May 15.
Premature decision – environmental groups
In a joint statement, environmental groups raised alarm over the lifting of the fish ban in some areas of Oriental Mindoro.
“We understand the urgency of letting our fisherfolk make a living, but we question why the ban is being lifted when MT Princess Empress continues to leak toxic oil into the waters of VIP (Verde Island Passage),” Gerry Arances, co-convener of Protect VIP.
“Fishermen might suffer from ailments if they encounter spill-affected waters, and we cannot guarantee that the fish they catch have not been affected,” he added.
Although recent reports showed that some areas are benzene-free, other toxic substances still pose a threat to humans, said Brent Ivan Andres, research and policy staff at the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development.
“Exposure to PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in humans may result in physiological problems that need to be treated immediately, while marine organisms may experience reduced survivability because of the toxicity of PAHs,” Andres said
“Sana mabigyan kami ni Gov. Dolor ng kalinawan kung anong pagsusuri ang batayan ng panukalang ito,” Dindo Melaya, convenor of Koalisyon ng Mangingisdang Apektado ng Oil Spill.
[Translation: We hope that Gov. Dolor will give us an explanation on what analysis he used in this resolution.]
“Ang solusyon ay ang tiyakin na may alternatibong kabuhayan, maayos na kompensasyon at ayudang natatanggap ang mga mangingisda at iba pang apektadong sektor,” he added.
