Japan donates gear, equipment to the Philippines for Oriental Mindoro oil spill cleanup

The Philippines on Monday received the gear and equipment donated by Japan, through their Japan Disaster Relief (JDR), to help in the ongoing oil spill cleanup in Oriental Mindoro.

According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines, the support items include oil blotters, heavy oil absorption masks, working gloves, rubber boots, and protective workwear and are “expected to boost the clean-up campaign and protect all people who will participate.”

The items were handed over to Mindoro's Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District.

JICA said the donated equipment is a “strong addition” to the eight-man JDR team that arrived in the country last Friday to assist Philippine authorities in conducting disaster surveys and supervise and provide counsel to the ongoing removal and control of the oil leak from a sunken motor tanker off Naujan.

Motor tanker Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank due to strong waves on February 28. All the 20 people on board were rescued.

“Cooperation efforts from the Government of Japan aim to speed up recovery of the marine environment and affected coastal communities,” JICA said.

Earlier, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor said almost 100,000 residents in the province have now been affected by the massive oil spill. — Sundy Locus/RSJ, GMA Integrated News