Over 3,000 fisherfolk affected by oil spill in Oriental Mindoro get aid from GMA Kapuso Foundation

An oil spill has left many fisherfolk and fish vendors in Barangay Papandayan in Oriental Mindoro without a means of livelihood.

According to "24 Oras" report on Monday, the sinking of the motor tanker, Mt. Princess Empress, caused the oil spill.

Under Operation Bayanihan, the GMA Kapuso Foundation went to Barangay Papandayan in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro to give food packs to over 3,000 fisherfolk from four barangays who were affected by the disaster.

Among the beneficiaries is Phoebe Jalos, a fish vendor, who is worried about supporting her six children.

"Mas malala pa 'to sa COVID-19 kasi nung COVID-19 nakakapaghanapbuhay pa kami. Kahit umangkat kami ng isda walang bumibili sa aming tao. Takot sa oil spill na yan," said Jalos.

Lowelo Hernandez, a fisherman, added, "Ako po ay namuhunan ng 10,000 dun sa ginagawa kong lambat bago mai-istuck lang daw dahil sa oil spill.  Namuhunan ako tapos hindi ko mababawi ang pinuhanan."

Raul Miciano, barangay captain of Barangay Papandayan, Pinamalayan, thanked the GMA Kapuso Foundation for the aid.

"Ako po ay taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa GMA Kapuso sapagkat napakalaking tulong na dinala n'yo para sa aking mga ka-barangay," he said.

"Ang masasabi ko sa GMA ay number 1 talaga sa pagtulong sa mga mahihirap 'yan," Jalos added.

For those who wish to help, the GMA Kapuso Foundation is accepting donations through bank deposits, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Shopee, PayMaya, Zalora, MegaMart, Globe Rewards, Metrobank credit card, and Lazada.

For more information, visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website.

—Kimberly Tsao/MGP, GMA Integrated News