DOJ info caravan to visit oil-hit Mindoro for IOPC claim —Pola mayor

The Department of Justice will be sending an information caravan to areas in Oriental Mindoro affected by the MT Princess Empress oil spill to assess for a claim with the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC), the mayor of one of the worst-hit towns said.

“Magka-caravan sila para...alam namin kung ano talaga isa-sign, sila yung mag guide sa amin, sa aming mga local government officials, mga chief executives,” Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz told reporters on Wednesday.

DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez and lawyers will be visiting Pola and another locality in about two weeks, but residents of other municipalities may also attend, Cruz said.

The oil tanker MT Princess Empress sank in the waters off Mindoro Island on February 28 carrying about 900,000 liters of industrial fuel.

The resulting oil spill grounded fishing boats in the area for months, with fishermen enlisted to clean up the coastal areas of the oil. Thousands of families were affected as livelihoods were disrupted. Last month, an inter-agency committee on the oil spill said it wanted the government to claim millions of dollars in international compensation.

Vasquez said the country may claim as much as $280 million from the IOPC, an international body that provides financial compensation for oil pollution damage.

DOH OKs water

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has cleared the use of water from faucets and pumps near the spill site after a 3-month ban.

“Walang ibang pinagkukunan ng tubig kundi mga poso, lalo na sa may tabing dagat,” said Cruz.

On February 28, oil tanker MT Princess Empress carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank and caused a massive oil spill near Najuan, Mindoro.

Over 533 hectares of mangroves and 47 kilometers spanning 11 barangays with over 4,800 families were directly affected by the spill.

An oil spill recovery operation was conducted on May 29 and the PCG announced the completion of the project on June 16 after all eight tankers of the ship were confirmed out of oil.

Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas has disputed the PCG's claim that the spill has been cleaned up, citing the huge decrease in fish catch from the area as reported by fishermen. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News