The expanding oil spill in Mindoro is feared to impact adversely on fish production in the first half of the year, according to activist group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).
The activists said the oil spill has reached the province of Palawan and some parts of Panay Island whose waters are among those that account for a large percentage of the national fish catch.
Citing data of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Pamalakaya said Palawan accounted for 86.79 percent while Oriental Mindoro accounted another 2.57 percent of the regional fisheries production last year.
Their collective share of fish production for the period translate to 59,895.53 metric tons, according to PSA data.
“Based on Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources monitoring, around 13,000 fisherfolks have been affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro. Palawan, which has a significant volume of fishermen and contributes to the national fisheries production, is also affected. The island of Semirara in Caluya, Antique has more than 1,200 fishermen who cannot go offshore for a week already,” said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chairperson.
According to Hicap, the government must stand prepared for the outcome of the oil spill that should not be resolved by importing fish.
“The importation of fish should not be the solution to resolve a possible shortage since this will be more devastating for both the local producers and fishermen. Instead, the government must provide economic assistance to affected fishers while also strengthening the capacity of other fishermen in other regions to offset the possible shortfall of catch from the affected provinces, Hicap stressed.
Earlier, the Pamalakaya urged the government to prepare a contingency plan addressing such ecological disturbances as fish kills and the destruction of mangroves, coral reefs and sea grass.
The Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED) said the no-fishing ban imposed in the aftermath of the oil spill is causing widespread apprehension on the fragile economy of Oriental Mindoro.
“The fishing sector in the Verde Island Passage area, which includes Oriental Mindoro, was valued at P11.8 billion in 2021. The impact is felt more than just by the fisherfolks. This trickles down to other sectors including tourism which in 2019 generated P3.5 billion. Even ordinary people who own sari-sari stores, tricycle drivers who transport tourists and resort workers have their livelihoods on pause now as their waters are poisoned by the oil spill,” said Gerry Arances, CEED executive director.
Arances said the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines warned the oil spill can spread further and ruin the economy even more due to the revenue loss of an entire sector.
He said decisive action led by the government is a must to minimize its impact and make someone answer for the incident as well.
Also, the government must provide more than mere ‘band-aid solutions” as the houses of Congress have filed resolutions for an inquiry into the incident along with a bill proposing stiffer penalties for oil spills.
CEED noted cash and food assistance have been released to affected residents but said such not last long for those in the crisis.
Edwin Gariguez, convenor of environmental group Protect VIP, said there is a need to identify who should compensate the affected residents and pay for the environmental damage to VIP.
Gariguez said that in the long run, “our policymakers should not just look at oil spills from sunken ships but also how to minimize the traffic of ships carrying poisonous cargo through this vulnerable area. And more importantly, the government should also enact legal protection for VIP because it is unthinkable that such a globally important marine corridor is left exposed to disasters like this.”
MT Princess Empress carried 800,000 liters of industrial oil when it sank in waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, causing a massive oil spill that forced the provincial government to declare a state of calamity in 77 coastal barangays.
The vessel is owned by RDC Reield Marine Services.
