POLA, Oriental Mindoro – The Provincial Government of Pampanga, headed by Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, delivered cash and food packs to 3,449 families affected by the recent oil spill incident in Oriental Mindoro.
It can be recalled last February 28, MT Princess Empress capsized in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, resulting in an oil spill that affected three (3) regions surrounding the area, namely Mimaropa, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas.
“Noong nakaraang linggo, inaprubahan na ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang pagtulong ng Pampanga sa bayan ng Pola, Oriental Mindoro. Marahil ay narinig na po ninyo kung gaano ka-grabe ang problemang idinulot ng oil spill na ito, lalo na sa kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda. Kung atin pong susuriin, hindi po sapat ang ilang linggo o buwan para masolusyunan ito, taon po ang bibilangin. Kaya tulad ng nakagawian nating mga Kapampangan, nandito na naman po tayo para magbigay ng tulong sa ating mga naapektuhang kababayan,” said Governor Delta.
He also looked back on how the neighboring provinces helped the Province of Pampanga during the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption, which decimated Kapampangans.
“Noong pumutok po ang Mt. Pinatubo, kagaya Ninyo, down na down din po kami. Pero sa tulong po ng ibang probinsiya at mga Pilipino, nagkalakas po kami ng loob na bumangong muli. Handa pong tumulong ang Lalawigan ng Pampanga hangga’t nandito ang problema na ito, kasama niyo po kaming mga Kapampangan,” the governor said.
Special Assistant to the Governor and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Angelina Blanco gathered 85 delegates from the Governor’s Office (GO), PDRRMO, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) General Services Office (GSO), Provincial Information Office (PIO), PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Police Provincial Office (PPO), and PDY Ventures, Inc. in a briefing before they left for Pola last Wednesday (April 26), bringing 19 vehicles laden with 10,000 food packs and water tank purifiers.
Aside from food packs, the provincial government will also distribute cash assistance amounting to P2,000 to each of the 1,390 fisherfolks and tourism workers whose livelihood has been jeopardized due to the effects of the oil spill.
Prior to this, Pampanga also extended help to victims of Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas, severe flooding in Cagayan, and earthquake in Abra. –Jasmine Jaso/Pampanga PIO
