By Janine Dumaguin
The Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor on Thursday, March 30 said that the entire province will be under a state of calamity.
In a radio interview, Dolor said that at first only the towns of Naujan and Bulalacao were declared under the state of calamity.
“Kagabi po, dahil sa pinakahuling report na natanggap ko, mula sa [Department of Health] tsaka sa [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] (DENR), nag-utos na rin po ako sa DENR [Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office] kagabi na ihanda ang rekomendasyon para sa deklarasyon ng state of calamity for the entire province, hindi lamang po para sa area na naunang naapektuhan ng oil spill,” Dolor said.
Dolor noted the towns that includes under the state of the calamity are Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong, Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Naujan, Pola, Calapan City, Bako, San Teodoro, Victoria, and Socorro, as they are greatly affected by the oil spill.
Meanwhile, Dolor assured affected residents that they will be given assistance.
“Pag hindi ko nakita ang satisfaction level sa mga mamamayan — inapi ninyo [at] pinahirapan, then it will not preclude the provincial government from filing any other legal actions within are means para mabigay ang justice sa ating mamamayan,” Dolor said.
The governor also said the claim offices will be built in every town of Oriental Mindoro thus every barangay will be accommodated.
However, he further said that as of now there are no exact amount of claims that the affected residents will receive.
In the latest report, the motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress has been located by the Japanese remotely operated vehicle nearly a month since it sank in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. – gb
