The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) wants to keep the fishing ban in some areas in Oriental Municipalities as oil traces have yet to be cleared up.

In its Oil Spill Bulletin No. 5 issued on Tuesday, BFAR said its recent analysis has shown that “oil and grease and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contaminants” were still present in the fishing waters in six municipalities.

"In light of these developments, the DA-BFAR recommends keeping fishing bans in Clusters 1 (Calapan and Naujan), 2 (Pola), and 3 (Bansud, Gloria, and Pinamalayan) due to the risk of contamination from traces of oil that have yet to be removed from the area,” it said.

BFAR noted that the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro currently allows the fishermen of Naujan and Calapan to fish in the waters of Baco, San Teodoro, and Puerto Galera.

Meanwhile, the fishermen of Gloria, Bansud, Pola, and Pinamalayan are allowed to do their fishing activities in Bulalacao, Roxas, Bongabong, and Roxas.

"The DA-BFAR will continue monitoring oil spill-hit areas for a time-series observation, which will be the basis of its recommendations for concerned government agencies and local government offices," the agency said.

Earlier this year, the BFAR provided more than ₱117 million worth of relief emergency and relief assistance, a medium to long-term recovery aid to areas affected by oil spills and early recovery efforts.

About ₱4.4 million was spent on post-harvest training for fisherfolk associations and cooperatives while ₱1.5 million was spent on food assistance for over 5,000 impacted Mimaropa fishermen.

On February 28, oil tanker MT Princess Empress, carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, sank in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro due to engine overheating.

Written By Dana Ebreo, DZRH News Online Intern