Puerta Galera, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Rockey Ilagan on Saturday blamed the oil spill projection of the University of the Philippines Marine Institute (UP-MSI) for the declining number of tourists in the province, which consequently hurt the local residents' livelihood.

Interviewed during DZRH's Special on Saturday, Ilagan claimed more than 50 percent of international guests canceled their booking due to UP-MSI's bulletin that previously showed that the oil spill will head towards Puerto Galera.

"Wala po akong problema sa projection po ng MSI pero sana po ay hindi ito pino-post sa public dahil nakaaapekto po sa turismo namin ang projection nila kahit oil spill free ang aming lugar," he said.

The Puerto Galera Mayor noted that many locals are just starting to recover after three years of the pandemic.

In the same interview, UP-MSI associate professor Irene Rodriguez defended the bulletin, saying they are publicly posting the oil spill projection as part of their obligation as a national university and as an academic institution.

"Inuulit namin, lagi namin inii-stressed, lagi namin binibigyan ng diin na ang nilalabas namin ay projection lamang at base sa mga assumptions ng water flow, direction ng hangin, at lakas ng hangin," she clarified.

Rodriguez said the bulletin is a mere warning so that local government units (LGUs) could prepare once the oil spill reaches their respective areas.

The UP-MSI professor further noted that, despite the information in their oil-spill projection, it is still at the discretion of the LGUs to impose a tourism ban or state of calamity.