PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday declared that the Cavite fisherfolk can now go back to fishing as the oil spill that affected their livelihood has been contained.
“At … nasabihan lang ako ni ating Secretary (Francisco Tiu) Kiko Laurel ng DA (Department of Agriculture) na mula ngayon ay maaari nang mangisda. Wala ng oil spill. Puwede nang ituloy ang inyong hanapbuhay,” President Marcos said during the distribution of presidential assistance in General Trias, Cavite.
During his speech, the President noted that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) expects the oil siphoning to be completed in two weeks.
“Ang estimate ng ating Coast Guard, kasama ‘yung mga salvor, ay sa kanilang pananaw, sa kanilang pagkalkula ay dalawang linggo daw ‘yan, ang tatagal ‘yung pagsipsip nung langis doon sa barko,” the President said, adding the oil spill extraction operations started four days ago.
“Pagkatapos ng sampung araw ay masasabi natin, nasipsip na lahat ng langis, puwede nang subukan na i-recover ‘yung barko na ‘yan. Palulutangin nila ulit at dadalhin nila sa ibang lugar. Kung mayroon pang natirang langis doon, saka doon kukunin,” the President added.
During his speech, President Marcos acknowledged the PCG, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), as well as other groups that helped in the cleanup operations.
“Kaya’t naging maayos naman ang ating pagsagot at pagtugon dito sa krisis na ito at marami namang tumulong sa atin,” the President said.
“Mayroong mga organisasyon po na ganun, mga NGO (non-governmental organizations) na kapag may oil spill ay lalapit at tumutulong, tinuturuan tayo kung ano ‘yung mga teknolohiya, ano ‘yung mga gamit na para mas maganda ang ating magawa,” he added.
President Marcos said his administration is committed to boosting the fishing industry in Cavite.
“Nagsisikap din kami na bigyan kayo ng panibagong lakas at pag-asa upang malampasan ang dagok na ito, matugunan [ang pangangailangan] ng nakakaraming Pilipino, at mapalakas muli ang industriya ng pangingisda sa Cavite,” President Marcos said.
“Magiging kaagapay ninyo ang Administrasyong ito sa pagpapalawak ng inyong kaalaman at kasanayan sa pangingisda at sa paghihikayat pa sa kabataan na makilahok sa pagsulong ng inyong sektor,” he added.
President Marcos led the distribution of over PhP360 million worth of assistance to oil spill-hit fisherfolk and families in Cavite.
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