The Department of Justice vowed to assist fisherfolk who have complaints about the alleged insufficient and unfair distribution of the cash aid given by the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) to help local fishermen impacted by the oil spill.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, in an interview on Radyo Pilipinas, said the amount of assistance given to the fisherfolk varies depending on their situation.
“Hindi kasi pare-parehas ng sitwasyon ang bawat isa. May mga iba na talagang ganito lang ang naipakita nila at meron naman na dahil sa oil spill ay hindi sila nakalayag at hindi sila nakalabas,” Vasquez said, adding that the Department of Justice is ready to assist in negotiating with the IOPC.
“Kung may pangangailangan nandiyan lang naman kami. Kailangan po magtulungan tayo at sana intindihin natin yung proseso. Isipin niyo lamang po na ang ating gobyerno ay nasa likod ninyo para maghabol,” Vasquez said.
The local government of Pola has also committed to assist affected fisherfolk.
“Hindi siguro nila napansin kung sino dapat yung mas malaki [ang nakuhang ayuda] o sino yung mas maliit, kung sino yung fisherfolk naman talaga at yung araw-araw na naninisid sa dagat…dapat na check mabuti ito kaya maraming nagrereklamo,” Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz said.
According to Cruz, even though two years have passed since the disaster, they are still feeling the negative effects of the oil spill on the livelihoods of those in the fishing and tourism sectors.
She said that nearly 50 percent of those affected by the incident have not yet received compensation from the IOPC.
“‘Yung mga resort owner natin totally hindi pa nakakakuha, ‘yung mga nasa palengke natin, ‘yung mga nagtitinda hindi pa rin nakakakuha. Meaning more or less 50 percent palang ang nakakakuha ng compensation sa mamamayan ng Pola,” Cruz said, assuring her constituents she will not ignore the fisherfolk’s complaints.
“Day one pa lang tinayuan ko na ito, sa huli ko pa ba hindi tatayuan?” she said.
The Department of Justice also said that by 2026, up to 40,000 people may receive their claims. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA/Photo by Jester Medrano Joaquin)
