In a bid to show that the tropical paradise remains unaffected by the oil spill, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco went scuba diving in Puerto Galera town, a popular diving spot in Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday, April 12.
Frasco, who sits as the chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), said the dive site continues to be unaffected by the oil spill caused by the sunken tanker MT Princess Empire off the coast of Oriental Mindoro last February.
"Napakaganda ng Puerto Galera! We are very hopeful that the message is sent across to everyone that they should come and visit Puerto Galera," Frasco told reporters. "Puerto Galera continues to be unaffected by the oil spill and it continues to open itself to tourism worldwide."
She also shared photos of the scuba diving activity on her Facebook page.
Frasco was accompanied by Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan, Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation (TRCRG) Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, and Region 4B Director Zeny Pallugna at the La Laguna Point, a popular dive spot in the local travel destination.
“Notwithstanding the difficulties, the challenges, and the calamities this province has and is facing, the Philippines, including Puerto Galera and Mindoro continues to be a beautiful tourist destination,” she continued.
According to the DOT, Puerto Galera is known for its scuba diving places, which provide diving veterans and even enthusiasts a diverse view of the beneath, combining a spectacular view of shipwrecks, corals, and other marine life.
Local tourism data showed that a total of 18,757 tourists visited the tropical paradise between April 3 and 10, 2023, with China, South Korea, the United States of America (USA), Japan, and Germany being the major international market sources.
Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky Ilagan, meanwhile, thanked the department for the visit, saying Frasco was the first Tourism secretary to set foot there since 2003.
The oil tanker MT Princess Empress which carried 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil submerged last February 28 due to engine overheating.
