Petron oil spill expense reaches over P43M
Continued clean-up efforts brought by the oil spill in the Province of Guimaras has now reached over P43 million, about half of the huge expense spent on dispersants and similar supplies alone. With evacuees holed up in tents and makeshift houses, Petron, the Philippine's largest oil refiner has yet to fold up its clean up operations.
To date though, a total of 2,000 metric tons of debris have been collected covering 135 kilometers of shoreline. If government reports are to be considered, Petron has about 200 kilometers more to go.
Pending verification and "final closure" of the Joint Inspection Team, thirteen villages in Nueva Valencia are deemed "clean" namely Canhawan, Igdarapdap, Dolores, Sitio Sumirib in Lapaz, Sitio Daku in Panobolon, Sitio Diutay also in Panobolon, Tando, Alegria, Nalibas Island, Nagarao Island, Burisan Sand Bar in Taklong Island of Lapaz, Kalaparan Sand Bar also of Taklong Island of Lapaz and Pulo Felis.
The P43 million Petron "cost of assistance" went to the "Cash for Work" program where over P14.8 million has thus far been directly paid to workers chosen by the barangay officials concerned. Rotation is employed to make sure all fit locals are able to avail. The barangay captains on the other hand are aided by the local social welfare officers on the choice of the workers.
To note, as per directive of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), Petron is to shift its support to livelihood and rehabilitation programs.
Over P2.1 million were also spent thus far on relief packs distributed to affected residents, the list also based on the official tally of the social welfare officers. The News Today (TNT) gathered though that the next round of Petron relief goods as ordered will and must be coursed through the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC).
To date, a total of 17 medical missions were also conducted as clearances were issued on fit and unfit workers. Most of those deemed "unfit" were laborers found to be hypertensive.
Some P4 million were also used by Petron to buy personal protective equipment with the gear's design and make chosen by the government and bought as well by Petron from government sources.
Meantime, Petron launched yet more help as the company brought in education programs primarily in the conduct of a literacy campaign.
Together with Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Petron with the Provincial Government and the Department of Education.
"Petron is committed to help Filipino children and youth overcome poverty through education. This is part of our corporate social responsibility not only to rebuild Guimaras but also in line with our advocacy to help make education a national priority agenda," Marilou Erni, Petron Foundation Executive Director said.
The MOA complements the DepEd's initiatives in the upliftment of basic education. As such, early reading skills project was launched dubbed as Bright Minds Read, a program designed to develop basic reading skills in Grades 1 and 2. Also launched was Sa Aklat Sisikat's 31-day Read-A-Thon which promotes love and habit of reading among Grade 4 students and Programang Kaakbay, a teacher training workshop designed to equip educators with new strategies for inculcating in children the love of reading.
Petron provided the books needed with the local DepEd executives choosing the beneficiaries.