Pola, Oriental Mindoro— Bags of food aid were sent to Pola’s 92 active bantay dagats (sea rangers) who were among the first responders to the oil spill that transpired off the coast of Naujan on February 28, 2023.
The bay of Pola captured majority of oil sludge from the sunken vessel, affecting its marine ecosystems including some of the best-managed marine protected areas in the province that communities have been protecting and nurturing for years.
The volunteer bantay dagats were called upon by the municipal local government to commence the arduous clean-up process of oil sludge pollution from the coasts of Pola.
The food aid contained a sack of rice and some 15kilos of canned meats and were released in partnership with the Pola municipal agriculture office.
