By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday extended cash assistance worth P64.5 million to over 8,600 Navotas fisherfolk affected by the massive oil spill in Bataan province.
During the turnover rites at the Navotas Sports Complex in Navotas City, Marcos announced his decision to raise the presidential assistance to each beneficiary to P7,500 from P5,000, as a present to them since he would be celebrating his 67th birthday on Friday.
“Ang tadhana natin ay hindi nakatali sa trahedya at sa sakuna, kung hindi sa ating kakayahan magtulungan, magkaisa, at bumangon mula sa pagsubok,” Marcos said.
“Sama-sama nating haharapin ang bukas—hindi lamang para malampasan ang unos, kung hindi para umusbong mula rito ang mas matatag at mas handa, at anumang hamon ng buhay ay kaya natin harapin,” he added.
Marcos turned over the check to the city government of Navotas.
He said the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez would also donate 10 kilograms of rice to each beneficiary.
He added that the talks between the government and owners of MTKR Terranova, which capsized off the waters of Bataan, are ongoing for the compensation of fisherfolk whose livelihood was affected by the sinking of the tanker.
“Ang tulong na ating ipapamahagi ngayon ay hindi lamang simbolo ng suporta, kundi ng ating paninindigan na hindi natin pababayaan ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa panahon ng pangangailangan,” Marcos said.
Ongoing investigation
Marcos said the government is also looking into the possibility that the tankers involved in the Bataan oil spill were involved in oil smuggling.
“Lahat ito ay iniimbestigahan para tiyakin na pananagutin natin ang mga may sala,” he said.
As of September 10, some 1,384,211 liters of oily waste were collected from MTKR Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank late July.
Marcos said he would expect the conclusion of the oil siphoning from the sunken tanker soon.
“Sa gitna ng mga katanungan, may mabuting balita naman tayong hatid. Ligtas nang ihain ang mga isda at iba pang mga pagkaing dagat sa ating mga lamesa. Samakatuwid, maayos po ang kalidad ng hangin at tubig ng Navotas para sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Navotas fisherfolk have been suffering from low farmgate prices due to the oil spill scare.
A few days after the oil tanker capsized, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installed an oil spill boom at the entrance of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) floodgates in Barangay Tanza Uno, Navotas City as a preventive measure.
Marcos said the implementation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s “Kalinisan Program”, an initiative aimed at consolidating efforts to maintain and provide a healthy and safe environment for the public, is also crucial in promoting cleanliness in Navotas City and keeping it safe from the threat of disasters.
“Mahalagang bahagi ng programang ito ang paghikayat sa mga komunidad na magsagawa ng mga solid waste management intervention at clean-up activity na makatutulong upang mapigilan na maharangan ng mga basura ang ating mga flood control structure,” he said.