Oriental Mindoro to be placed under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor wants the entire province placed under a state of calamity due to the oil spill from the sunken motor tanker Princess Empress.

Dolor said he directed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to prepare a recommendation for the calamity declaration in view of latest situational reports from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Health.

Parts of the province initially affected by the oil spill had earlier been placed under a state of calamity.

Dolor said the provincial government is giving priority to these areas to ensure that food and livelihood would be provided to affected residents.

He said just compensation should be given to affected communities.

“Ang proseso pwedeng legal or amicable settlement. Ito ay as far as the people are concerned. Kaya individual ang claims, insurer at individual, hindi pa collective,” Dolor said.

The provincial government will ensure that fisherfolk will receive compensation considering that it has been a month since fishing bans were imposed in affected areas, he said.

Coastal cleanup

Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Vice Admiral Rolando Punzalan Jr. reported yesterday that cleanup of 60 percent of the shorelines affected by the oil spill had been completed.

“This is good progress sa ating pagtatanggal po ng langis sa mga naapektuhan na mga coastlines,” Punzalan said at yesterday’s Laging Handa forum.

He cited the assistance provided by coast guards from Japan, South Korea and the United States as well as experts from France and the US Navy, who arrived in the country on Wednesday.

He said it has yet to be determined when the coastal cleanup will be finished even as he gave assurance that the PCG and other stakeholders are working double time. —  Robertzon Ramirez