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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Governor to ask int'l body to fast-track fishers' claims over oil spill

Governor to ask int'l body to fast-track fishers' claims over oil spill

Published Feb 24, 2025 07:45 am

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor said he will ask the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds to expedite the release of payment to fisherfolks who have not yet received their claims over the oil spill from M/V Princess Empress that struck this province in 2023.

DOLOR OIL SPILL.jpg

ORIENTAL Mindoro Gov. Humberto Dolor (standing) tells ‘pangulong’ owners that their claims for compensation will be addressed by IOPC Funds subject to documentary and other evidentiary requirements. (FB)

“I’ll see to it that all qualified and legitimate claimants of the compensation claims will be given their rightful payments,” said Dolor during a recent meeting with owners of big fishing boats locally called “pangulong” at the provincial capitol here.

The governor said at least 30,000 fisherfolks have received their claims from the IOPC ranging from P2,000 to P700,000 after almost two years of evaluation and assessment of their individual claims.

“It will take two to three years before the fisherfolk could get their payment which is what IOPC representatives told me when they started entertaining claims and payment,” Dolor said.

Individual claimants transacted directly with IOPC when it started entertaining claims in every town in the middle of 2023.

The second phase of the distribution will involve owners and crew of pangulongs.

The IOPC had earlier denied the claims of pangulong owners after it was found out that they conducted fishing activities outside municipal waters.

On Feb. 28, 2023, MT Princess Empress sank in the sea of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, resulting in an oil spill in the coastal areas of 12 municipalities and this city.

The ill-fated oil tanker was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial oil known in the energy sector as "black oil" – a deadly and highly toxic fuel oil to the environment.

The fisheries sector in Oriental Mindoro, Antique, Palawan, and neighboring provinces incurred nearly P19 million daily or a total of more than P5-billion in damages and losses.

The vessel was owned by RDC Reield Marine Services which is facing criminal and civil cases as a result of the maritime tragedy.

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