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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider P3-B compensation claims from Mindoro oil spill only half paid a year after disaster 

P3-B compensation claims from Mindoro oil spill only half paid a year after disaster 

Published Feb 29, 2024 10:04 am

At A Glance

  • Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel said only about half of the P3-billion total compensation claims in connection with the Oriental Mindoro oil spill have been paid a year after the ecological disaster. 

PCG.jpg(Philippine Coast Guard)



Only about half of the P3-billion total compensation claims in connection with the Oriental Mindoro oil spill have been paid a year after the ecological disaster.

Thus, bared Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the House Committee on Ecology.

“Of the P3 billion in compensation claims, nearly P1.6 billion (worth of claims) have been paid so far,” Pimentel said in a statement Wednesday, Feb. 28, on the first anniversary of oil tanker M/T Princess Empress’ sinking off the coast of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

He said a total of 35,576 individuals and entities have filed an aggregate of P3 billion in compensation claims.

The claims were paid by the London-based International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds), in cooperation with The Shipowners Club–a mutual insurance association based in Luxembourg, according to Pimentel.

Citing an IOPC Funds report, Pimentel said the bulk of the payments, or P1.15 billion, went to 42 entities that made compensable claims incurred in connection with “cleanup and preventive measures".

“Almost P43 million of the payments were made to 3,103 individuals, mostly subsistence fisherfolk, for their economic losses, translating to an average of around P25,600 per claimant,” said the veteran congressman.

“Based on the IOPC Funds report, they’ve had difficulties paying many small claimants who did not have bank accounts,” Pimentel said.

“This problem betrays the need for the government to push hard for the financial inclusion of marginal Filipinos,” underscored the National Unity Party (NUP) stalwart.

CLICK HERE:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/5/go-after-mt-princess-empress-owners-solon-tells-govt-as-oil-spill-worries-persist


Earlier this month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the filing of criminal charges against RDC Reield Marine Services Inc., the owner of the Princess Empress, and its corporate officers and certain employees who were found liable for the sinking of the tanker and the oil pollution damage.

The 508-gross ton Princess Empress sank on Feb. 28, 2023 to a depth of 400 meters, and an oil spill was subsequently detected around the ship’s location.

The discharge and pollution damage affected communities around Tayabas Bay, Verde Island Passage, and Tablas Strait.

The IOPC Funds report listed “engine failure” as the cause of the incident and as “unknown” the quantity of oil spilled, though the ship was said to be transporting 800,000 liters of fuel oil cargo from Bataan to Iloilo.

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