OCD Advocates for Enhanced Oil Spill Preparedness and ResponseKampung Kilanas Mosque Organizes ‘Berbagi Rezeki’ Programme for Needy Families
CALAPAN CITY — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has underscored the importance of improving oil spill response capabilities and implementing stricter regulations to combat water pollution. This call to action by OCD administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, comes on the anniversary of the MT Princess Empress oil spill off Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro province on February 28, 2023. The spill, which affected the waters of Antique, Batangas, and Palawan provinces, prompted a significant inter-agency and multisectoral response to address the environmental disaster.
According to Philippines News Agency, while the collective effort eventually overcame the challenges posed by the oil spill, the incident has revealed the need for stronger preparedness and response strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of such environmental emergencies. In the aftermath of the spill, a regional task force was established on March 3, 2023, followed by the creation of a national task force to enhance the government’s response efforts.
Nepomuceno, who participated in the first-year commemoration of the oil spill at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Calapan City, emphasized that the experience garnered from managing the oil spill incident has been invaluable. The event, organized by the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro, aimed to acknowledge the contributions of various government agencies, organizations, communities, and individuals to the response operations.
The commemoration was attended by key figures including Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rexlon Gatchalian, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, and other officials. Notably, the local government unit of Pola, one of the municipalities most affected by the spill, recently lifted its state of calamity. However, the DSWD assured continued support for the affected areas, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives for ongoing coordination with the local government units impacted by the spill.
KAMPUNG KILANAS, Brunei — In a heartfelt gesture of community support, twenty-nine heads of poor and destitute Asnaf families received contributions through the Berbagi Rezeki (Sharing Sustenance) Programme. The event, held at Kampung Kilanas Mosque, was organized by the mosque’s Takmir Committee in observance of the holy month of Ramadhan.
According to Radio Television Brunei, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, who officiated the distribution, the contributions were gathered from the mosque’s Takmir committee members, congregants, and residents of the surrounding area. This initiative reflects the community’s commitment to supporting those in need during a time of spiritual significance.