Fish in Bataan City tasted like diesel after oil spill, senators say

MANILA, Philippines — Fish caught in waters affected by an oil spill in Bataan province smelled and tasted like diesel, its governor told senators Wednesday.

Bataan Governor Jose Garcia made the disclosure following the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)’s declaration that fish samples from areas affected by the fuel spill, except Cavite, are safe for human consumption.

READ: Fish from 4 metropolitan cities and 4 provinces are safe for consumption, BFAR assures public

This was not entirely true, however, at least for the people of Bataan.

The comments are based on Garcia’s account of attending the Senate environment committee’s inquiry into the oil spill caused by the sinking of the tanker Jason Bradley in the province.

“From day one, we reported the BFAR during the sensory inspection that took place today,” Garcia said.

(From day one, BFAR reports that our sea catches have successfully passed their sensory inspections)

“You need BFAR. But nito pong mga nakaraang linggo, lalo na nung simula nitong lumubog ang Jason Bradley, marami ho kaming mga barangay dyan sa Mariveles nagbabalik po nung kanilang binibili na mga isda dahil amoy, and saka lalo na kapag niluto, lasang diesel, lasang langis, » he added.

(That’s what BFAR said. But in recent weeks, especially after the sinking of the Jason Bradley, many of our villages in Mariveles have been sending back fish they bought because of the smell and taste of diesel after cooking it)

The oil tanker Jason Bradley capsized on July 26.

READ: Sunken tanker Jason Bradley allegedly involved in oil smuggling – DOJ

But BFAR Deputy Director for Technical Services Angel Encarnacion stood by his regional office’s findings that Bataan’s fish and shellfish were “generally safe to eat.”

Senator Cynthia Villar, the head of the panel, interjected: “Does Bakit need anything? Are you next?”

(Why do people refuse to eat it? What’s wrong with you again?)

“Pagdating ng budget nyo sakin lagot na naman kayo,” she added.

Encarnación promised to verify the test results from his office in Region 3.

“Ayusin nyo yan. Nakakahiya hindi makain tapos sasabihin nyo is fit for human consumption,” Villar said.

(You need to fix this. It’s embarrassing that this can’t be eaten, and yet you say it’s fit for human consumption)

She suggested that BFAR inspectors eat the fish they test.

Senator Francis Tolentino echoed Villar’s suggestion.

“Dapat siguro kayo ang unang kumain,” Tolentino said.

(Maybe you should be the first to eat it)

Encarnacion stressed, however, that this is already being done in BFAR’s sensory tests.

The Bataan governor later clarified that they only received complaints about contamination after the Jason Bradley tanker sank.

“After this week, medyo nawala na po yung mga complained (the complaints have somewhat decreased),” Garcia said.