Only 625 out of the 5,576 affected families received compensation, nearly a year after the MT Princess Empress submerged and spilled massive industrial oil in the waters of Oriental Mindoro, according to Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz on Sunday, February 18.
"Ang fisherfolks natin ay until now ay wala pa masyadong nakukuha doon sa compensation mula sa IOPC. Doon sa 5,5[76]. 6[25] pa lang ang nakakakuha ng compensation," she told DZRH in an interview.
The pay-out of the compensation, according to Cruz, was given to the 625 families last February 13.
Mayor Jennifer Cruz, Pola, Oriental Mindoro, sa kalagayan ng lugar matapos ang oil spill: Unti-unti kaming bumabangon. Until now ay ramdam pa rin ang dagok na pumunta sa karagatan.#Huntahan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) February 18, 2024
LIVE:https://t.co/B40AXuJgHS pic.twitter.com/wGVHBCjCg8
The compensation distribution has been going slow as IOPC Funds, the insurer of the sunk MT Princess Empress, is thoroughly checking each documents presented.
"According to IOPC, chine-check pa nila [ang papeles]. 'Yung iba raw ay hindi pumasa, may iba naman na talagang binubusisi ang papeles nila. May iba naman na binubusisi ang mga papel nila" Cruz said.
Almost half of the affected fisherfolk, she noted, have gone back to fishing.
"Hindi kasi talaga makabalik nang husto kasi wala ring makuha na isda. Siguro dahil sa oil spill. Hindi katulad dati na medyo marami, medyo malapit lang pwedeng mangisda may huli na. Kasi may mga mangrove areas na naapektuhan ng oil spill so walang mapangitlugan ang mga isa," the Pola mayor added.
Aside from the compensation, the Pola local government is offering alternative livelihood to the affected fisherfolks such as backyard gardening and construction jobs.
As per the Pola Mayor, the state of calamity will be lifted on February 26, allowing the public to go to the coastal seas and authorizing the full-scale fishing activities.
She added that water sports activities will resume again between February 25 or 26.
Meanwhile, Cruz welcomed the justice department's recommendation to file criminal charges against the parties responsible for the massive oil spill.
"Sobrang thankful tayo sa DOJ at talagang ngayon ay nakapag-file na ng case sa may-ari at kung sino ang kailangang managot sa pangyayaring ito," she said.
