The oil spill from the capsized tanker is driving the spike in fish prices in Oriental Mindoro, Pinamalayan Mayor Aristeo Baldos Jr. said on Sunday.
"'Yun [mahal na isda] po ang problema namin pero ngayon naman ay may bangusan pa naman dito at tilapya. Kaya sa ang nasa palengke namin ngayon ay bangus at tilapia," he said in an interview during DZRH's Maynila, Ito ang Pilipinas.
Baldos said many local fisherfolks have already stopped sailing and going fishing.
"Kung makahuli man, wala na rin naman bumibili [ng isda]. Natakot na rin ang tao kumain kasi sa magiging dulot sa kanilang kalusugan," he added.
According to the Pinamalayan Mayor, at least nine barangays with over 2,800 families were affected by the oil spill in their Municipality.
He shared that even small and big tourism establishment has sought assistance from the local government.
"Umaangal na po na bagama't hindi sila fisherfolk, pero ang kabuhayan ng mga tauhan nila at ang kanilang negosyo ay apektadong-apektado. Isa na rin po sila sa mabibilang na kasama dito sa kalamidad. Bibigyan na rin [sila] ng tulong ng ating gobyerno," Baldos said.
The Pinamalayan Mayor said swimming on the beaches are temporarily prohibited as he noted that the oil spread into the sea water can stain the human's body, and this also has a smell.
As of writing, 77 coastal barangays across nine of the 15 municipalities in Oriental Mindoro province have already declared a state of calamity
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) earlier reported that the oil spill has reached Caluya, Antique, and it has spread over Taytay in Palawan.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Marine Science Institute has predicted that the oil spill will head over the areas of the Verde Island Passage (VIP) by March 16.
