LGU to lift state of calamity over Mindoro oil spill

MANILA, Philippines — The municipal government of Pola in Oriental Mindoro will lift the state of calamity it declared over the area following the massive oil spill caused by the sinking of the motor tanker Princess Empress last year.

Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz yesterday said the state of calamity would be lifted on Feb. 26, a year after the  Empress sank in the waters off Oriental Mindoro.

“The lifting of the state of calamity will revive the local tourism industry and will erase doubts among the fisherfolk whether to fish or not,” Cruz said.

The Empress was loaded with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel when it sank near the coast of Naujan town on the morning of Feb. 28, 2023.

“Swimming is now allowed as we have cleaned the area, although there are still traces of oil slick,” Cruz said.

She lauded a decision of the Department of Justice to file charges against the executives of the RDC Reield Marine Services, owner and operator of the Empress, as well as two crewmembers of the vessel, an employee of the Maritime Industry Authority and a private person.

“This is only for the criminal complaint. The civil case is separate. It was only us who fought for our fisherfolk. Other local government units, including  the provincial government did not file charges,” Cruz said.

She questioned the decision of the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Funds to compensate only 627 fishermen, noting the catastrophe affected at least 5,520 people in Pola who are dependent on fishing.

“The distribution of the compensation should not be done by batches. It should cover all fishermen since we are the ground zero of the oil spill,” Cruz said.

The two-day distribution of compensation from the IOPC started yesterday.

She said her constituents are asking why they were not included among the beneficiaries of the IOPC.