The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro may consider ordering the resumption of fishing activities in seven municipalities affected by a recent oil spill.
“The fishing waters in Clusters 4 (Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao) and 5 (Puerto Galera, Baco, San Teodoro) were found to be within acceptable standards for fishing activities. The provincial government of Mindoro may consider the resumption of fishing
activities in the said municipalities,” a BFAR statement, quoted by GMA News, said.
Meanwhile, it still recommended keeping the fishing ban in Calapan, Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, and Bansud due to the risk of contamination from traces of oil that have yet to be removed from the area, GMA News reported.
BFAR said traces of oil were observed during onsite monitoring of sea surface in Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, and Bansud during sampling and added that water samples collected last April 24 showed that oil and grease remained in affected areas but these are still within the
standard (3.0 mg/L) set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for Class SC waters or Fishery Water Class and Recreational Water Class that are suited for boating and fishing activities, as well as fish propagation intended for commercial and sustenance
purposes.
The BFAR also said that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on the other hand, were no longer detected in most of the fish samples collected last April 17, except for pelagic fish samples from Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Puerto Galera, Baco, and San Teodoro, GMA News reported.
It said it will continue monitoring oil spill-hit areas for a time-series observation, which will be the basis of its recommendations for concerned government agencies and local government offices.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) meanwhile said no money will be wasted over the government’s recall of thousands of tuna cans included in relief packs for areas affected by the oil spill.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez, quoted by an ABS-CBN News report said the procurement of tuna cans for government relief packs is under a framework agreement wherein the government only pays for what is consumed.
“Under procurement law, we will only pay for what is consumed,” the official said.
The DSWD earlier ordered a recall of thousands of cans of tuna packed with other relief goods, which were distributed in Oriental Mindoro,
following complaints that they were expired. Some residents in Calapan City said the tuna included in the food packs tasted different.
DSWD Mimaropa Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso said some 60,000 family food packs will be replaced in the province.
Lopez, however, assured residents that the cans of tuna were not expired, saying all relief goods must have a minimum 2 years before
expiration.
“These are not spoiled or expired,” he said in Tagalog.
“The issue of palatability has come in…Baka hindi pasok sa panlasa ng ating kababayan. Baka may umay factor din kasi Feb 24 nung
nagkaproblema tayo sa oil spill,” he added.
The DSWD is set to meet with the supplier of the concerned tuna products today, May 8.
Lopez said that aside from the recall, DSWD may ask the supplier to replace their stocks or completely remove them from all relief packs.