President Marcos says the DSWD is ready to provide assistance to those who might have been affected by the spillage.
MT Princess Empress, which was carrying 800,000 liters of oil, sank in Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28, 2023.
Photos of the effects of the oil spill from the Philippine Coast Guard
Marcos vows aid to families affected by Mindoro oil spill
Mar 4, 2023 01:02 AM
At a glance
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured families and individuals affected by the oil spill from a sunken vessel in Oriental Mindoro that the government is ready to assist them, particularly the fisherfolk in the area.
Marcos said this after MT Princess Empress, which was carrying 800,000 liters of oil, sank in Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday.
UPDATE: The concerned shipping company, RDC REIELD MARINE SERVICES INC, contracted MALAYAN TOWAGE equipped with oil spill response equipment --- currently assessing the level of oil spillage in the incident area. #DOTrPH🇵🇭#CoastGuardPH#MaritimeSectorWorks pic.twitter.com/noUTEOYgmy
— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) March 1, 2023
In a series of tweets, the President ensured that assistance was ready for those who might have been affected by the spillage of diesel fuel.
He added that the Palace was in close coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PSG), which is leading the efforts to address the oil spill.
"The government, through the [Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD)], 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," Marcos said.
"We are closely monitoring the situation with the [PCG] as the lead agency. Special attention will be given to the affected fisherfolks who will be losing their source of livelihood because of the oil spill," he added.
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
According to the President, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was already working with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
"[They] are ready to provide support to the local government and determine their specific needs," he said.
Marcos likewise thanked private corporations like Petron and Shell, who have offered their help by lending the government the needed equipment to mitigate the oil spill's impact.