Army’s 2ID activates Task Group to support the Office of the Civil Defense-Region 4B in Mindoro oil spill

Army’s 2ID activates Task Group to support the Office of the Civil Defense-Region 4B in Mindoro oil spill

CAMP CAPINPIN, Rizal - the Joint Task Group activated by the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry "Jungle Fighter" Division Task Group is currently supporting GAs and LGUs in addressing the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro since Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Oil tanker MT Princess Empress which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil sank last February 28 in Naujan which resulted in the oil spill that affected over 13,755 families across the municipalities of Pola, Gloria, Naujan, Bansud, Gloria, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao. As of this writing, the oil spill has already reached Caluya, Antique.

On March 4, the 203rd Infantry "Bantay Kapayapaan" Brigade activated the 203^rd Task Group through the Joint Task Force Katagalugan Implementing Plan “Sagip Kalikasan Oriental Mindoro” which included several disaster response teams from the 76^th Infantry Battalion, 68^th Infantry Battalion, 4^th Infantry Battalion, and Alpha Company of the 2^nd Civil-Military Operations Battalion to support the Office of Civil Defense Region 4B, Philippine Coast Guard, various Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices, and Oriental Mindoro LGUs in addressing the impact of the oil spill, monitor developments, implement measures that would contain the spread of the oil spill, recover the spilled fuel, and conduct emergency response activities in the areas that may be affected by the incident.

Among the efforts currently being conducted by the 203^rd Task Group includes loudspeaker operations, containment and preventative activities, coastal clean-up drives and assisting the GMA Kapuso Foundation in distributing relief goods.

“Together with our partner agencies and LGUs, we have been continuously supporting the  Office of the Civil Defense Region 4B in their efforts to immediately address the oil spill, and provide assistance to our kababayans as they go through these tough times," 2ID Commander Maj. Gen. Roberto S. Capulong said in a statement.