Application for compensation in Oriental Mindoro oil spill to begin next week —insurer’s lawyer

The application for the compensation of individuals and groups affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro will start on Monday, March 27, the insurer of the sunken motor tanker said Thursday.

In a press briefing, Atty. Valeriano del Rosario, lawyer of MT Princess Empress’ insurer P&I Club, said that local claims offices will be established in affected areas.

“On the week of 27 March 2023, the first claim offices, also known as claims caravan, will open in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro and it will act as the collecting point for the claimants to submit their completed claim forms,” he said.

“Subsequently, we will also see the opening of local claims offices in the other affected barangays as well,” he added.

Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor said the P&I Club has confirmed in a meeting on Thursday morning that they will already accept applications for the compensation.

“Nagkumpirma na simula Lunes, ika-27 ng Marso, tatanggap na po sila at sila ay makapag-establish na ng claims office,” he said.

(The P&I Club has confirmed that starting March 27, they will start accepting applications and establishing a claims office.)

Del Rosario said claimants include individuals, corporations, and local government units affected by the oil spill.

The categories of claims are the cost of cleanup and preventive measures, economic loss in fisheries and marine culture, economic loss in the tourism sector and related businesses, as well as property damage.

Claimants are advised to send accomplished claim forms to the designated offices with supporting documents and proof of their loss, according to Del Rosario.

He added that the claims forms will be reviewed.

Del Rosario noted that the computation of claims varies depending on the claimants and the categories of their claims.

He said, for example, if a fisherman earns P450 a day and stopped fishing for 23 days due to the oil spill, the amount of financial loss will be multiplied by the number of days of his interrupted livelihood. Based on this computation, the fisherman may get around P 10,000.

Motor tanker Princess Empress was carrying around 900,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank due to strong waves on February 28. All 20 people on board were rescued.

A total of 163,508 people or 34,555 families in Mimaropa and Western Visayas were affected by the oil spill, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council  (NDRRMC) said as of Wednesday.

State of calamity was declared in 10 cities and municipalities, according to the NDRRMC.

At least 192 people fell ill due to the oil spill.

On Thursday, the Maritime Industry Authority said it already issued cease and desist orders against RDC Reield Marine Services which is the company that owns the sunken MT Princess Empress.  The agency said the order will remain in effect pending the result of the investigation into the oil spill. —VAL, GMA Integrated News