Nasa P7 bilyong halaga ng environmental damage ang nasira sa oil spill sa Oriental Mindoro.
Ayon kay Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, base ito sa inisyal na pag-aaral ng kanilang hanay sa mga na-exposed na coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves at fisheries.
“The possible exposure area for us is P7 billion,” pahayag ni Loyzaga.
“We’re not allowed to fish in the area. We’re also not allowed to dive yet, but we want to do that immediately because we want to observe what the physical impacts are,” pahayag ni Loyzaga.
Sabi ni Loyzaga, whole of government approach ang ginagamit ng pamahalaan sa pagtugon sa oil spill.
“What we have to do now is verify on the ground how much of these reefs have actually been touched, how many of the mangroves have actually been destroyed, and how many of the seagrasses have actually been affected,” pahayag ni Loyzaga.
“The DENR is responsible for offshore and nearshore contamination and impacts,” Loyzaga explained. “The general operation is legally under the direction of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). So they are onsite right where the source is happening. We are left to actually work on the forensics, what is happening, where the hazards going, what will be affected, and our area is nearshore and offshore,” dagdag ni Loyzaga.