THE Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team said the Philippine Government’s efforts in addressing the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro are correct and on the right track.
During a meeting with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Incident Management Team in Oriental Mindoro Commander, CG Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, on 13 March 2023, the Japanese experts shared their observations on the shoreline clean-up operations at Barangay Buhay na Tubig, Pola, Oriental Mindoro.
The JDR Expert Team said the joint clean-up operations have effectively minimized the oil spill’s impact at the coastal barangay.
CG Commodore Tuvilla requested the Japanese experts to provide the PCG with an official report on their offshore and shoreline assessment and observations on the ongoing response efforts for monitoring and documentation.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr lauded the JDR Expert Team for offering their time, expertise, and resources to augment the ongoing oil spill response operations in Oriental Mindoro.
The President said the Japanese experts continue to provide valuable support, specifically in investigating the extent of damage and guiding the ongoing oil removal and control activities.
He also thanked the Japanese Government for donating equipment, such as oil blotters, oil snares, and oil-proof working gloves, used by the National Strike Force (NSF) team during shoreline and offshore operations.
Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa said the assistance was in recognition of “amicable relations between Japan and the Philippines on humanitarian grounds and for marine environment protection.”
“We hope that the support from the Japanese Government will contribute to preventing further oil contamination and restoring the marine environment in the affected areas,” Ambassador Koshikawa furthered.
