The oil spill from the sunken oil tanker in Bataan has already reached the shorelines of Tanza, Cavite, the progressive fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) reported on Monday, July 29.

Fisherfolk and coastal residents in this coastal town this morning were disrupted by the distinctive odor associated with the oil spill.

Fisherfolk are now worried that the oil slick might contaminate fishery resources, consequently affecting the farm gate prices of their produce.

“Nangyari na ang aming kinatatakutan; ang kumalat ang langis sa kalakhan ng Manila Bay at maperwisyo ang kabuhayan ng maraming mangingisda.

Dito lamang sa bayan ng Tanza, tinatayang mahigit 5, 000 mangingisda ang maaapektuhan kung hindi agarang maaapula ang kumakalat na langis.

Habang tila kibit-balikat ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at mga awtoridad sa lawak ng pinsala ng oil spill, matinding pangamba na ang dinaranas ng mga mangingisda ng Manila Bay na hindi pa nga nakakabangon mula sa pananalasa ng bagyong Carina at Habagat,” Ronnel Arambulo, PAMALAKAYA Vice Chairperson said in a statement.

PAMALAKAYA said that it will conduct on-site inspection in various municipal waters in Cavite for the extent of the oil spill, and will seek concrete rehabilitation for the affected livelihoods and damaged resources.