The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro on Monday, June 26, lifted fishing ban in the Municipalities of Naujan and Pinamalayan in Oriental Mindoro, three months after oil tanker MT Princess Empress sank.
"Ngayong araw na ito ay officially ko nili-lift na natin ang fishing ban sa Naujan at Pinamalayan," Governor Humerlito ‘Bonz' Dolor announced during a press conference.
He said the imposed ban has been lifted following the recommendation of an oil expert from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
"Sa aming ugnayan, ang five-kilometer radius sa ground zero ng oil spill ang nirerekomenda ni Professor Bacosa na i-retain natin for fishing ban, and after two weeks, titingnan ulit ang magiging resulta ng tests," the Oriental Mindoro governor said.
"Ang rekomendasyong ito ni Professor Bacosa ay siya ding lumabas sa pag-aaral na ginawa ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)," Dolor added.
According to the Oriental Mindoro governor, the fishing ban is still in effect in the Municipality of Pola as chemicals still endanger marine species.
Prior to this, the fishing ban was also lifted in Puerto Galera and Bongabong and four other Municipalities.
Last June 18, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that the remaining oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress have been completed ahead of its target date.
Aside from the fishing ban, the Oriental Mindoro governor announced that the second tranche of the Emergency Cash Transfer payout will be distributed in 13 Municipalities on Thursday, June 29.
Meanwhile, Dolor said at least 8,694 affected residents will benefit from the Department of Labor and Employment Government's (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
