By Billy Begas
Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed to help secure some P200 million cash aid for some 8,000 fisherfolks in Oriental Mindoro who were affected by the oil spill.
On Wednesday, Romualdez held a meeting with leaders of the fishermen’s group in his office at the Batasan Complex. It was Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas who informed the Speaker about the fisherfolks’ request for his intervention to alleviate their plight.
Also present during the meeting were House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, and Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo.
Romualdez said his office is committed to securing funds from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). These funds will be used to provide P24,000 each for the 8,000 fishermen from Oriental Mindoro who were affected by the oil spill.
“Panimulang tulong lang ito na sapat sa dalawang buwan. Sa loob ng panahong ito, hahanap tayo ng paraan para makakuha naman ng pondo para sa mga alternative livelihood programs ninyo habang nililinis pa ang oil spill,” Romualdez said.
“Kung kukulangin pa ito, tutulong din ang iba pang kasama ko dito sa House of Representatives para magtuloy-tuloy ang ayuda sa inyo habang hindi pa kayo nakakabangon. Gagawin natin ang lahat para makabangon kayo sa trahedyang ito,” he added.
Romualdez also shared his experiences in disaster recovery having been a victim of the super-typhoon Yolanda years ago. “In moments like these, Filipinos are always ready to lend a helping hand to their kababayans.”
He cited the private donations that poured into Tacloban at the time, including fishing boats and livelihood packages.
“Kung kailangan ninyo ng bangka, tutulong din ako na humanap ng mga donors para sa inyo. Sila ang mga tumulong sa amin noon sa Yolanda at naging susi kaya nakabangon agad kami,” he pointed out.
The fisherfolks, who traveled from Oriental Mindoro, were accompanied by their lawyer who is helping affected residents seek remuneration from the owners of the MT Princess Empress.
The M/V Princess Empress, which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel, sank in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro last February 28.
The massive oil spill that resulted reportedly affected 193,436 individuals from regions of CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas.
