BFAR helps Ilocos Norte communities affected by oil spill

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) would provide assistance for coastal communities in Badoc, Ilocos Norte after a cargo vessel partially capsized off the coast of the municipality and caused an oil spill.

The cargo vessel LCT MSCI 1 encountered rough seas brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat on June 8 while traveling from Currimao, Ilocos Norte to Calayan Island in Cagayan, causing it to tilt and partially capsize near the coastal waters of Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa in Badoc after water reportedly entered the vessel’s ballast tanks.

The incident led to the discharge of suspected petroleum-based products in the water, causing visible oil sheen and a strong petroleum odor near the grounded vessel, with reports of oil residues along the shoreline of Barangay Dadalaquiten Norte in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

The DA stated that it is ready to provide food packs, temporary livelihood assistance, and other support measures to at least 135 registered fisherfolk in Badoc that could be affected if fishing activities are disrupted because of the oil spill.

DA Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther E. Bayate said that she instructed BFAR Regional Director for the Ilocos Region Remely B. Lachica to coordinate with the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide food packs, cash and employment assistance to affected fisherfolk.

Ms. Bayate also said that while there are no reports of fish kills, abnormal fish behavior, or contaminated fishery products, the BFAR intensified monitoring and assessment activities to determine the extent of contamination and its potential effects on fishery resources.

“Continuous monitoring, seafood safety testing, and fisheries impact assessments are underway to ensure that any emerging risks are detected and addressed immediately,” Ms. Bayate said in a statement issued by the DA. — Marron Joshua F. Mendoza