The ongoing oil spill debacle in Oriental Mindoro, which has already reached Western Visayas (Caluya, Antique) and Palawan, should prompt the government to assess its readiness and capability to address oil spills. Clearly, our local governments, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are inadequately equipped to respond to oil spills. Our government agencies at the frontlines as first responders to oil spills do not have readily available booms and other containment equipment, supplies and measures.

Slippery response to oil spill. (2023, March 16). Panay News, p. 5.