CEBU, Philippines - First district Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam†Gullas yesterday went to Cansojong barangay hall in Talisay City to distribute some rice and canned goods to 115 fishermen and their families affected by the oil spill, which resulted from the sinking of the passenger ship St. Thomas Aquinas.
Gullas said the oil spill has caused incalculable damage to residents whose main livelihood is fishing.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also handed out financial assistance to the families.
Most fishermen have stopped fishing and business is bad for most fish vendors in the city who say consumers have not looked at fish caught in the Talisay waters since the sinking of the ship.
The vendors said some consumers even shun fish caught in Bantayan, Danao City, or in Tapilon.
“The oil spill will certainly cause intangible damage to the environment and mitigating measures must be immediately implemented to minimize the damage,†Councilor Antonio D. Bacaltos Jr, who is the chairman of the committee on Environment Protection, Wildlife Ecology and Natural Resources Management, said. (FREEMAN)