MANILA, Philippines — Wala nang fishing ban sa ilang apektadong lugar ng Oriental Mindoro matapos lumubog ang isang oil tanker na nagdadala ng mahigit 800,000 litro ng fuel nitong Pebrero, ayon sa Malacañang Palace.
Ganito ang ibinalita ni Presidential Communications Office Secretary Chelow Velicaria-Garafil, Huwebes, ito ngayong nasa P4.73 bilyong halaga na ang pinsala nito sa sektor ng agrikultura.
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"The Task Force MT Princess Empress Oil Spill Incident wishes to inform the public that the waters of Clusters 4 and 5 in the affected localities of Oriental Mindoro province are now within acceptable standards for fishing activities based on the latest laboratory tests results of water and fish conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on April 17 and 24," ani Garafil.
Dahil diyan, pwede nang mangisda sa mga sumusunod na lugar:
- Bongabong
- Roxas
- Mansalay
- Bulalacao
- Puerto Galera
- Baco
- San Teodoro
Sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin inirerekomenda ang pangingisda sa:
- Naujan
- Pola
- Pinamalayan
- Gloria
- Bansud
"[They] are still not recommended for fishing activities due to the risk of contamination by the oil spill that is still to be removed while precautionary measures will still be implemented if the levels of contamination has risks to food safety of fish and fisheries products," dagdag pa ng PCO.
"Amid this development, the time-series monitoring of all sites will be continued according to the scheduled sampling plan of the BFAR."
Umabot na sa 192,616 residente ang naaapektuhan ng naturang pangyayari, ayon sa pinakahuling ulat ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ngayong araw.
Kabilang diyan ang 211 naiwang "injured" at 24,698 mangingisda at magsasaka.
Air, water sampling nagpapatuloy
Hindi pa naman natatapos ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources sa pagkakasa ng air at water sampling kabilang ang hazardous waste monitoring at management sa lahat ng apektadong lugar.
Una na raw naobserbahan sa MIMAROPA na mas mababa ang naitatalang oil at grease hilaga ng ground zero o Naujan town kumpara sa mga nasa katimugang bahagi.
Una nang idineklarang "unsafe for swimming" ang ilang tourist destinations gaya ng Puerto Galera buhay ng naturang oil spill.
DOH guidelines
Samantala, nag-isyu naman ng mga panuntunan ang Department of Health (DOH) pagdating sa ligtas na pagkonsumo ng isda atbp. lamang-dagat sa Clusters 4 at 5.
"The public is advised to prepare and cook seafood products properly. Avoid eating fish, shellfish, and other seafood products that have an oily smell or taste. Fisherfolks should ensure that their catches do not contact any remaining floating oil and are free of signs of contamination," sabi pa ng PCO.
"If exhibiting any untoward symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after consuming seafood products, kindly seek immediate medical assistance from the nearest Rural Health Center, primary care center, and/or physician."
Binabawalan pa rin ang mga publiko sa Clusters 1, 2 at 3 na iwasang kumain ng isda, shellfish, mollusks atbp. seafood products mula roon. Agad naman pinapupunta ng pinakamalapit na health centers, atbp. ang mga aksidenteng makakakain nito.
Aniya, maaaring mauwi sa eye irritation, pagkahilo, pagsusuka, pagdudumi at pagkairita ang mga taong mae-expose o makakakain ng mga nabanggit.