US commits to help in Mindoro oil spill clean-up


At a glance

  • Citing a report from the Department of National Defense, Malacañang said the government of United States will help clean up the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro

  • US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has committed to deploy naval units to help in the clean-up operation

  • (Photo courtesy of DENR)


Malacañang bared that the United States has committed to help clean up the massive oil spill in the waters off Oriental Mindoro.

During a meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, March 21, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said he spoke with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin who committed to deploy naval units to help in the clean-up operation in the area.

“I had a phone call last night with Secretary Austin at 7:45 p.m. They are committed to help in coordination with Japan and other countries,” Galvez said.

According to the Defense chief, Austin has assured the Philippine government that their Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) team “is now on their way to help and provide assistance in managing the oil spill.”

“In fact, as I've recommended, some of the exercise scenarios of the forthcoming ‘Balikatan’ Exercises will be ‘real life’ and actual HADR operations relative to the oil spill,” Galvez said.

He further said that the government will also continue to seek the expertise and technical support of other partner countries, such as France and the United Kingdom, in containing the oil spill in the island of Mindoro.

“As of yesterday, the oil spill has already affected 32,661 families in MIMAROPA and Western Visayas.  Although a total of P28.3 million worth of humanitarian assistance alone from the government, LGUs (local government units), non-governmental organizations, and other partners, was already provided to the affected families, we will sustain these assistance to them,” the DND chief noted.

Galvez also told the President that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has already given a briefing on the foreigners who extended assistance to the government in the ongoing clean-up operations in Mindoro.

The Japanese salvage vessel Shin Nichi Maru, a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), arrived at the port of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro on Monday. It was immediately deployed in the area.

Local support

Meanwhile, Marcos vowed that the government will continue to assist the the affected communities by the oil spill that already reached other provinces in the regions of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and Western Visayas.

According to Region VI Task Force on Oil Spill, the national government, local government units (LGUs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other partners provided a total of P28.3 million worth of humanitarian assistance to the affected families.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is currently implementing a 45-day cash-for-work program involving 7,198 families (including off-site), which started last March 6. It said the beneficiaries could also avail of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) and family food packs (FFPs).

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), on the other hand, has started the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program in the three areas of Caluya: Sibolo, 152; Semirara, 246 and Tinogboc, 66, through a 30-day work program.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

Meanwhile, various government agencies are coordinating with the International Tankers Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPH) on the conduct of a massive clean-up drive, identification of the debris staging area, as well as the dumpsite.

A private contractor for the oil spill clean-up is hiring 100 local workers to help the community.

The Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro has committed to provide daily subsistence needs (meals, medicines, and vitamins) of the PCG team conducting off shore oil spill control and provided the personal protective equipment (PPE).

The MT Princess Empress was reported to contain around 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it ran aground off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28 due to engine trouble and eventually sank the following day.