Pola Mayor call for IOPC to expedite the release compensation fund for fisherfolks

Two years have passed since the devastating oil spill in the waters of Oriental Mindoro, particularly in the town of Pola, and the affected residents continue to call for proper compensation from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Plan (IOPC). Today, during the second-year commemoration of the oil spill incident in Pola, affected fish vendors and other business owners gathered once again to voice their concerns about the lack of compensation they have received following the incident.

According to the fish vendors, the compensation they received is still insufficient to cover the damage to their livelihoods caused by the spill. Nympha Rivera, a fish vendor, expressed her frustration over the small amount of compensation she received. “Ay bakit ganun ang aking natatangap sir, ang sa isang araw ko sir ay 3,500 sa isang araw na natubo, kung sa isang buwan po ay 10,500 ang bawat isa eh 4 months po na tinigil namin ang pagtitinda po yun lng po eh bakit naman 6 thousand lang. ” said Rivera.

Other vendors also shared similar grievances, stating that the compensation offered was not enough to cover their losses. Some even returned the compensation they felt was insufficient. Rodney De Guzman, another fish vendor, said, ” Isinauli po namin, kasi po unfair naman po sa amin kasi po ang iba po ang lalaki po, dalawang daang libo, kami pong lahat na tiga palengke po ay merong anim na libo, meron siyam na libo, meron pong sampung libo lang po, unfair sa amin na ganun kaliit lang na ibigay mo sa amin ang laki ng nalugi po sa amin, dahil nung nagtitinda po kami pina stop po kami at yung mga isdang itinitinda namin Hindi na namin nabenta, tinapon nalang po amin.” De Guzman said.

This sentiment was echoed by Pola’s mayor, Jennifer Mindanao Cruz, who said that many sectors, including resort owners and fishermen, have yet to receive compensation.

“Actually marami pa, yung mga resort owners po natin totally hindi pa nakakakuha, yung mga nasa palengke po natin, Yung mga nagtitinda Hindi pa din nakakakuha, so Ilan sa ating mga fisherfolks hindi pa din nakakakuha, so meaning more or less 50% pa lang ang nakakakuha sa ating mamamayan ng bayan ng Pola. Mayor Cruz stated.

Because of this, the Pola LGU (Local Government Unit) is determined to follow up with the IOPC to speed up the process for the residents’ claims.

” Pinu-push natin na tawagan ng tawagan ang IOPC para mas mapabilis ang proseso, kasi hindi naman pwde na nakakuha na yung iba, pare parehas naman silang naghirap , pare parehas nawalan ng hanap buhay kailangan sabay sabay din halos na makakakuha eh mag dadalawang taon na wala pa, so kailangan makuha na talaga to , Hindi natin pwdeng pataglin pa matatapos na ang taon , after 3 years hindi na pwde , tama ?  baka mamaya magkaroon ng reason behind that , hindi natin alam , so kailangan mailabas na yung para sa mga fisherfolks .Pola Mayor  said.