The Senate has scheduled an investigation into the massive oil spill caused by the ill-fated MT Terranova for August 13.
WATCH: PCG, salvage operator simulates draining oil from MT Terranova
The investigation was launched following a resolution filed by Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino calling on the Senate to investigate the cause of the oil spill that affected some 46,000 fishermen, marine biodiversity and food security in Bataan, Cavite, Metro Manila and surrounding areas.
“We must put in place stronger mechanisms to prevent such incidents and improve our capacity to respond immediately to contain, clean up and mitigate the impact of this toxic substance on the fishing sector and the environment,” Tolentino said in a press release on Wednesday (Aug. 7), referring to similar incidents in Pola, Oriental Mindoro in 2023 and the island province of Guimaras in 2006.
Tolentino also urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to work with other agencies to support fishmongers affected by the lower catch and subsequent fishing bans due to the oil spill.
