The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Atty. Benjamin Abalos, Jr. witnessed Mayor Jennifer Cruz Mindanao lift the ‘state of calamity’ status of Pola, Oriental Mindoro placed to contain the spread of the oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress last February 28, 2023.

SILG Abalos, Jr. was accompanied by DILG MIMAROPA Regional Director Karl Caesar Rimando, CESO III, DILG Provincial Director Ma. Victoria del Rosario, Program Manager Dennis de Castro and MLGOO Ma. Fatima Santiago.

During the said program, different government agencies provided health care services and financial assistance to the indigent families.

In his message, the Secretary emphasized that the oil spill tragedy provided valuable learnings for better preparation in case of similar disasters.

“There are lessons learned, dapat hindi na maulit ito. Number 1, siguro dapat lahat ng mga barkong dadaan dito lalo na ang mga may kargang langis, dapat ma-check maigi, number 2 ang ating preparedness, saan tayo pwedeng mag-improve tungkol dito, but if there is one thing that should never change, it is the spirit that you’ve shown as a people and as a community,” Secretary Abalos, Jr. said.

He also commended the collective efforts of the Municipal Government of Pola and the relevant government agencies in responding to the disaster.

“Because of the leadership of the local government of Pola, mga tiga-Mindoro, and our National Government, lahat ng ahensya from DOH, DSWD, DENR, PCG, PNP, DOJ, AFP, BFP, lahat po ng ahensyang ito nagsama-sama, lahat ito ay nagkapit-bisig,” he added.

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