Petron ups 'cash-for-work' fee to P300
Petron Corp. will increase from P200 to P300 the daily take of residents helping in the clean-up drive which the giant oil company has initiated. This was agreed upon by top officials of Petron Corp. and government officials when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presided the meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Guimaras Saturday.
Petron, with a net income of P2.7 million in the first half of 2006, only paid the workers P200 per day in its "cash for work" scheme.
Petron's "cash for work" employed 2,077 workers for a five-day clean-up drive. The company only started to hire workers last August 19. The M/T Solar I sank last August 11, 2006. For the five-day work, the company spent P415,400.
Other than the "cash-for-work", Petron along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development is also into a relief operation. Goods were distributed to the affected residents.
Meanwhile, the President also ordered the Department of Health to help and support the local doctors in treating the residents inflicted with oil spill related ailments. The number of cases of illnesses in the affected areas has already increased.
In last week's visit, Health Secretary Franciso Duque III issued several health advisories to the affected residents. He also denied that the death of Remelio Dalida was due to the oil spill. The death could not be directly attributed to the inhalation of fumes, the best thing is to conduct autopsy to the victim's body. This is to determine the real cause of his death.