TO avoid the dire consequences of maritime disasters in the future, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee called for the allocation of more funds for booms and other equipment for oil spill containment.
“The disaster caused by the MT Princess Empress oil spill has exposed how ill-equipped we are in responding to threats to our aquatic resources due to oil spills. Kaya’t hihingin po natin na magbigay ng mas malaking pondo para sa oil spill containment equipment sa susunod na budget hearing,” said Lee.
The Philippine Coast Guard has admitted it does not have enough equipment to handle the oil spill caused by MT Princess Empress, which sank on February 28 while carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.
The sunken vessel has been releasing 35,000 to 50,000 liters of oil per day, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The Japanese government, which has sent an eight-man team to help the Philippine government’s task force, has also committed to providing equipment, such as oil blotters, oil snares, and oil-proof working gloves, to aid the clean-up of affected coastal barangays.
The United States and South Korea also committed to help the country.
Lee said that the Philippines cannot always rely on the help of others, and should work towards having the necessary equipment to deal with such disasters.
“Mas mabilis tayong makakapag-responde sa ganitong sakuna kung mayroon tayong sapat na kagamitan. Dahil sa kakulangan natin, patuloy na nasisira ang mahalagang likas-yaman, at nawawalan ng kabuhayan ang mga kababayan nating nakaasa rito, lalo na ang mga mangingisda,” the lawmaker said.
Lee also reiterated his call for immediate aid to be given to communities affected by the oil spill.
The Office of Civil Defense said recently that over 108,000 people in 118 barangays in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan have now been affected by the oil spill.
Nearly 32,000 families in 68 areas in MIMAROPA and Western Visayas have also been affected as of March 14, according to the OCD.
