Mindoro oil spill moving north through Verde Island passage —PhilSA

Satellite images showed the oil spill off Oriental Mindoro moving north and heading for the Verde Island passage, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said on Tuesday.

According to Allan Gatus' Super Radyo dzBB report, PhilSA’s Supervising Science Research Specialist Engineer Roel de la Cruz said in a press briefing that part of the oil slick had reached Verde Island.

While the oil spill was previously moving southward, March 23 satellite images showed the spill changing directions and moving northward towards the Verde Island passage.

However, De La Cruz said ground observation still needed to monitor the real effect of the oil spill.

As of Tuesday, 172,928 people or 36,658 families in Mimaropa and Western Visayas were affected by the oil spill, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

A total of 203 people fell ill due to the oil spill.

A state of calamity was declared in 10 affected cities and municipalities, according to the NDRRMC.

‘Immediate, unconditional’ indemnity

Meanwhile, fisherfolks’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) called for the distribution of “immediate and unconditional” indemnity for thousands of fishermen whose livelihoods were affected by the massive oil spill.

Latest data from Pamalakaya showed that around 18,000 fisherfolk from the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Antique, and Palawan were still unable to return to fishing a month after the sinking of MT Princess Empress.

“One month after the oil spill tragedy, accountability remains elusive. In Oriental Mindoro, fisherfolk in several towns are expressing frustration over the slow and arduous process of obtaining compensation from the company that owns the MT Princess Empress, the vessel responsible for the spill,” said Pamalakaya National Chairperson Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

“Fishers are finding it hard to cope with the intricate compensation process, which is becoming increasingly challenging as the oil spill spreads to more areas, resulting in their families facing prolonged periods of hunger,” Hicap said.

The group thus called for the “prompt and direct distribution of compensation” for the affected fishermen and their families in the affected areas, adding that the owner of RDC Rieild Marine Services — the vessel’s operating company — “should be compelled to shoulder the long-term rehabilitation of the affected fisheries, mangroves, reefs, and coasts, to restore their previous vitality”.

The MT Princess Empress was carrying around 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank in heavy seas on February 28. All 20 people on board were rescued. — DVM, GMA Integrated News