The fishing ban in the town of Pola has also been lifted almost five months since the oil spill happened in Oriental Mindoro.
Gov. Humerlito Dolor announced that the fishing ban had been lifted, and all water activities are allowed in the town of Pola after the recommendation of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) because it appeared in the latest analysis that there is no more oil and grease in the sea covered by Pola.
Because of this, the entire sea covered by Oriental Mindoro can be fished and bathed, so the province continues to recover from the disaster caused by the oil spill.
“There are more or less 10 series of tests conducted by BFAR both on the oil and grease levels at saka yung level ng PAH, ang maganda lang doon during last test na inilabas nila, very clear na ang level ng oil and grease ay within the standards , at yun naming PAH level no detection na because of that pwde nang ilift at yun ang last straw para masabi natin na ang Oriental Mindoro ay buo na, on the way to recovery na,” said Dolor.
But for Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz, only fishing is allowed, and she has not yet allowed swimming activities because there are still oil tarballs that are said to be visible.
The town of Pola was the worst affected by the oil spill.
Fishing ban lifted in Pola 5 months after the oil spill
Dolor assured that the aid distribution will continue until the last batch of emergency cash transfers is completed.
Boat owners will receive an emergency cash transfer of P12,118, while those with non-motorized bancas and others dependent on the fishing industry affected by the oil spill will receive P6,000.
From July 25 to August 16, aid will be distributed to the remaining beneficiaries of the cash-for-work program throughout Oriental Mindoro.
The governor added that the final demobilization of the Oil Spill Task Force will also begin.
Now that the oil spill has ended, the provincial government will be able to begin an assessment of how much damage the oil spill has caused in Oriental Mindoro, including the fishing industry, affected families, nature, and damage to the local economy and tourism.
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