The country’s fisheries sector is losing P5 million a day as the impact of the Oriental Mindoro oil spill continues to take its toll. This was revealed by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Spokesperson Nazario Briguera during a “Laging Handa” briefing on Monday, March 20. According to him, about 19,000 fishermen, among others, continue to suffer from the fishing ban that is currently imposed in oil spill-affected areas. "We are looking at an estimate of P5 million being lost every day as we continue to restrict fisherman from fishing in affected areas, which had been their source of livelihood,” the bureau official said in Filipino. On Feb. 28, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported an oil spill from the motor tanker Princess Empress, which had capsized earlier that day off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro and was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil as cargo. Since then, fishing in oil spill-affected areas has been banned due to possible water toxification. Because of this, more or less half of the residents in affected towns, who rely on fishing as their only source of income, have been drastically affected, Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor said. It can be recalled that Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistance Bureau Director Miramel Laxa recently disclosed that the government's cash-for-work program was able to provide P116 million worth of cash assistance and continue to aid the at least 151,000 individuals or 32,000 families reportedly affected by the oil spill. Beneficiaries are paid to help make improvised oil spill booms and absorbents and establish backyard gardens and community clean-up drives. Meanwhile, the tourism sector has also been suffering with 61 tourist destinations in Oriental Mindoro and nearby provinces affected by the oil spill. “There are 61 [tourism] sites that are affected in Oriental Mindoro, and several beach resorts that have been negatively affected,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco earlier stated. “Our regional offices have been in very close collaboration and coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Coast Guard, as well as our local government unit, and other relevant government agencies,” she added.