President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. assured on Friday that the government will provide the necessary assistance to the individuals and families affected by the oil spill from the sunken tanker in Oriental Mindoro on February 28.
In a Twitter post, Marcos said he has tapped the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to lead the distribution of assistance.
The government will also give special attention to the fishermen whose livelihoods will be affected due to the marine damage, he said.
The government, through the @dswdserves, is prepared to provide various forms of assistance to families and individuals affected by the oil spill caused by the submerged MT Princess Empress in Oriental Mindoro.
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) March 3, 2023
"We are closely monitoring the situation with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as the lead agency," Marcos said.
"The @DENROfficial is also working with the @IMOHQ and the @DILGPhilippines is ready to provide support to the local government and determine their specific needs," he added.
The President also extended his gratitude to oil companies Petron and Shell, who both offered their help to mitigate the impact of the oil spill by lending equipment.
Petron had earlier heeded the call of the Department of Energy (DOE) and sent its teams and equipment for the containment and clearing operations in affected areas.
On February 28, MV Princess Empress, which carries 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, capsized off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro due to engine overheating.
The coastal town of Pola has declared a state of calamity as the oil spill killed animals and damaged marine life.
