European Union hands over oil spill containment booms

European Union Ambassador Luc Véron’s visit to Occidental Mindoro from Jul. 8 to 11, made obvious the strong ties between the Philippines and the European Union (EU), which celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The visit highlighted the critical work undertaken by the EU to support the protection of the province’s precious environment. One of the initiatives is the support of biodiversity conservation and the management of protected areas in ASEAN or BCAMP. In the municipality of Sablayan, Ambassador Véron and his team met with the management of Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park, a protected area home to the Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), a species of buffalo found only on the island of Mindoro. Implemented by the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity, BCAMP also supports the creation of alternative livelihoods for communities in the protected areas, such as communal agroforestry sites.

Supporting sustainable livelihoods for local communities is indeed a key to help protect the environment in Mindoro. This is also the case for the fisherfolks, who are being assisted by another EU-funded project: the Mindoro Strait Sustainable and Equitable Tuna for Bankability Project (MSSETB). During his visit, Ambassador Véron met with the women’s groups supported by this project, locally known as Project Buhay, such as the Samahang Mangingisdang Kababaihan (SAMAKA) Producers’ Cooperative in Sablayan, the Pinagpalang Mangingisda ng San Nicolas Fisherfolk Association (PMSNFA), and the Ligaya Flying Fish Catchers and Workers Association (LFFCWA). These associations are receiving support to help them make fishing practices sustainable, improve the quality of fish catch, upgrade cold-chain facilities, and introduce investment to Occidental Mindoro. The objective is to increase incomes, promote gender equity, generate alternative livelihood opportunities, and ultimately increase the resilience of Mindoro’s coastal communities. All of these are carried out while preserving the island’s natural resources for future generations.

On the eve of their return to Manila, the EU delegation attended the official turnover ceremony of oil spill containment booms procured by the EU through Project Buhay. This initiative came after a devastating oil spill occurred on the other side of Mindoro Island in Feb. 2023, threatening the Verde Island Passage and the coastal communities that depend on its rich waters. The booms will be managed by the Apo Reef Natural Park Protected Area Management Office (ARNP- PAMO) and Sablayan’s LGU. This is part of the concerted efforts to protect ARNP, the world’s second-largest contiguous coral reef system, famous for its marine biodiversity. A single span of the containment booms will be able to hold up to two large-sized fire trucks’ worth of oil, giving emergency response authorities enough time to remove it and avoid damage to ecosystems.

Hosted by the government of Sablayan, the ceremony was attended by local government leaders, representatives from the Office of the Governor of Occidental Mindoro, Congressman Leody Tarriela, Protected Area Superintendent of the Apo Reef Natural Park Krystal Dane Villanada, WWF-Philippines Executive Director Katherine Custodio, Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council Chairman Ryan Acosta, Occidental Mindoro Federation of Tuna Fishers Association chairwoman Conchita Roldan and other community leaders.