MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday that aid distribution to Bataan oil spill-affected fishers is underway, with initial relief provided to fisherfolk in Cavite.
“Mag-iikot iyong BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) sa lahat ng area na nakapalibot sa Manila Bay para mabigyan ng tulong (The BFAR will go to all areas surrounding Manila Bay to distribute aid),” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.
The BFAR started its relief and recovery plan for affected fishers on Aug. 3, with 1,612 beneficiaries or all registered fisherfolk in Noveleta.
Besides the initial aid, De Mesa assured PHP3,000 worth of fuel subsidy per fisher, alongside alternative livelihood assistance through the DA’s PHP1 billion worth of quick response fund (QRF).
“Ang QRF kasi ay rehabilitation fund atsaka alternative livelihood na pondo (The QRF is a rehabilitation fund and alternative livelihood fund),” he said.
“So, pwedeng iyong mga mangingisda, kung di sila makapangisda, kung mayroon silang lupa na sinasaka, gulay, alaga ng hayop, they can be provided ng ganitong (fishers who can’t fish, if they have lands to till, vegetables, livestock animals, they can be provided such) interventions,” De Mesa added.
He also assured BFAR’s stringent monitoring through sensory evaluation in fish ports to ensure that fish and other seafood being sold in retail markets are safe for human consumption.
“Guaranteed na safe iyon base sa pagtitiyak ng BFAR. Dahil doon pa lang sa lugar na iyon pinagbabawal naman kasi iyong panghuhuli (That’s guaranteed safe as per BFAR’s evaluation. Because a no-catch zone is being implemented in affected areas),” De Mesa said amid drop in retail sales of fish products in some areas in Cavite.
“Iyong binabagsak ng Navotas, galing iyan ng Lucena, galing ng ibang lugar (Those in Navotas, they come from Lucena and other areas), not necessarily Manila Bay na pangisdaan. So safe pa rin na bumili ng isda sa mga lugar na ito (fishing areas. So, it’s still safe to buy from these areas),” he added, citing exceptions in areas directly affected by the oil spill, such as Noveleta and Rosario towns.
Earlier, the BFAR released its Bataan Oil Spill Bulletin No. 2 with fish samples in Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite showing a degree of “tainting with petrochemicals,” deemed unsafe for human consumption.
Oil smuggling probe backed
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday backed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation on the oil smuggling through the “pa-ihi” (siphoning) modus operandi to expose all those involved in the Bataan oil spill.
“Dapat imbestigahan ito at ‘yung mga may kasalanan naman ay talagang dapat idemanda (This must be investigated and those who erred should be charged),” Abalos said in a statement.
The “pa-ihi” is a scheme used by smugglers to evade taxes by transferring their oil products to smaller shipping vessels before conducting actual delivery.
Abalos also said the inter-agency task force will conduct a weekly inspection and briefing to inform the public on the actual areas affected in order to combat misinformation.
“We are doing this to curb panic among the public. When there is gossip, there is misinformation and rumors spread. This causes panic and alarm,” Abalos said. “We want to show that the national government is ready to respond in all aspects.” (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
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