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Authorities are racing to recover a tanker that sank off
Oriental Mindoro province carrying 800,000 litres (211,338
gallons) of industrial fuel oil when it suffered engine trouble
on Feb. 28 in rough seas.
"We are saddened because all the tourists that booked us for the
summer season and the upcoming Holy Week have already
cancelled," said Marino Enriquez, a resort manager in the town
of Pola.
"The effect is very extensive because there are no visitors
arriving for vacation or to unwind, nobody is renting our
cottages because of restrictions on swimming, there is nobody
checking in since there is a stench, and the sand is filled with
oil," said resort caretaker Rocela Lasac.
Volunteers have had to endure noxious fumes and use buckets to
clean up beaches blackened by the spill, which experts have said
threatens 36,000 hectares (88,958 acres) of coral reef,
mangroves and sea-grass. Restrictions have been imposed on
swimming and fishing in the affected area.
Restoring the beaches to their original pristine beauty will
take several months while the clean-up is underway, authorities
said.
Environmentalists were also worried about the oil spill's
potential impact on marine life and on the livelihood of
fishermen.
"The marine protected areas where the fish lay eggs, if those
are destroyed we will lose the fish reserve in our ocean," Earth
Island campaign manager and analyst Robert Medrano said.
(Editing by Karen Lema, Kanupriya Kapoor)
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