Oriental Mindoro lifts fishing ban in some towns
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:44 p.m.) — The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro on Monday lifted the fishing ban in some parts of the province more than two months after MT Princess Empress sank and leaked oil into the sea.
Fishers from the towns of Bongabong, Roxas, Masalay, Bulalacao, Baco, San Teodoro and Puerto Galera can now resume their fishing activities, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor announced, citing the latest analysis of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
However, fishers from Calapan City, Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria and Bansud are still not allowed to fish.
“We encourage you to fish in the nearest town where fishing is allowed,” Dolor said in Filipino.
Last week, the Department of the Interior and Local Government identified alternative fishing grounds for oil-spill affected fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro.
Fishers from Calapan, Naujan, and Pola may catch fish in the municipal waters of Boac and Gasan in Marinduque, and in Tayabas Bay.
Those from Pinamalayan, Gloria and Bansud may do their fishing activities in the municipal waters of Concepcion in Romblon and portions of Mindoro Strait.
Assistance is still needed
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) welcomed the lifting of the fishing ban in some parts of Oriental Mindoro as it called on the government to provide fuel subsidy and livelihood support to fishers.
“At the same time, there must be sufficient assistance for fishers who will resume their activities through production subsidies. For over two months, the livelihood of fishers have been affected, and many of them do not have the capital to go back to fishing,” PAMALAKAYA national spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo said in Filipino.
Other groups, however, questioned the move as MT Princess Empress continues to leak oil into the waters of the Verde Island Passage.
Gerry Arances, executive director of sustainability think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development and co-convenor of Protect VIP, said the lifting of the ban at this point “might cause more harm than any benefit from letting fishermen go out to the sea.”
The group urged Dolor to disclose the basis for his order to lift the fishing ban to enable fisherfolk to properly assess the risk they might be exposing themselves to.
Dindo Melaya, convenor of the Koalisyon ng Mangingisdang Apektado ng Oil Spill (KMAOS), said fishers fear the move pose risks to their health and to those who will consume the fish caught in the area.
“The solution to the crisis is to ensure that fishers and other affected sectors have alternative livelihoods, proper compensation, and aid,” Melaya said in Filipino.
The oil spill has affected over 31,000 fisherfolk in the province.
Fishers who were ordered to stay ashore participate in the government’s cash-for-work program, which provides temporary income.
MT Princess Empress was loaded with 800,000 liters of oil when it sank off Oriental Mindoro on February 28. The vessel is still leaking more two months since the incident.
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