The Bataan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Sunday it is coordinating with the insurance company of the MT Terranova to process the claims of the residents whose livelihoods were affected by the massive oil spill caused by the sunken ship.
Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Bataan PDRRMO head Arvin Catipon said that their legal team is ensuring that the vessels responsible for the oil spill will face appropriate sanctions for what happened, including giving compensation to those directly and indirectly affected.
“Regarding sa claims, may ugnayan na kami sa DOTr Maritime Group…para matulungan kami doon sa pagpa-process ng claims, katulad ng ginawa nila na pagtulong noong panahon ni Princess Empress,” Catipon said, referring to MT Princess Empress which sank on February 2023 off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel.
(We are coordinating with the DOTr Maritime Group to help us process the claims, like what they did when MT Princess Empress sank.)
“Meron na rin kaming direktang komunikasyon at koordinasyon doon sa insurance company mismo ni Terranova,” he added.
(We also have direct communication and coordination with Terranova’s insurance company.)
One person died after the Terranova, a motor tanker, capsized and caused an oil spill off the town of Limay, Bataan in the early morning of July 24.
The PDRRMO official said that there is still no specific amount as to how much compensation the affected residents, including fisherfolk, are seeking from the owner of the motor tanker. He said this will be determined once the assessment of the insurance company is finished.
“‘Yung sa pagde-deklara ng mga fisherfolks natin o iba pang indirektang naapektuhan ng amount ng kanilang kinikita, the team from the insurance will do an assessment. Sabi naman po, katulad ng nangyari sa Princess Empress dati, either ibibigay buo o actual na kine-claim na amount na per day na sahod o kinikita nila or mas mababa lang ng onti na ibibigay,” Catipon explained.
(The insurance team will do an assessment. Just like what happened during the Princess Empress incident before, either the actual amount of their wage per day or a slightly lesser amount will be given to the fisherfolk and those who were indirectly affected.)
In the case of Cavite, its local government has said it is seeking at least P10-million compensation from the owners of MT Terranova for the effects of the oil leak on the livelihood of residents.
Governor Jonvic Remulla said the compensation of more than P10 million a day is equivalent to the daily wage of 350 pesos of residents whose livelihood is dependent on the condition of the sea.
Catipon said the Bataan PDRRMO is coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide assistance to those who were affected by the oil spill.
Last Tuesday, the owner of MT Terranova denied allegations that the tanker was involved in oil smuggling or “paihi.”
This, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is investigating whether the ill-fated tanker was involved in any illegal activity with other vessels while at sea.
Under the “paihi” system, oil from a large vessel is transferred to smaller craft while at sea to avoid paying taxes. —RF, GMA Integrated News
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