More than P2.7 billion pesos in claims have been paid to those affected by the oil spill caused by the sinking of MT Princess Empress, according to data submitted to provincial officials.

Aqueous Support Services, Inc., the marine claims specialists handling compensation, reported that 33,731 claims totaling P2.702 billion pesos had been paid as of September 2025, according to a letter dated Oct. 23 from Atty. Ponciano Dexter Hector S. Corpus to Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor.

The company has received 40,807 claims worth P3.878 billion pesos total, with 35,418 claims approved at amounts exceeding zero, the data shows.

Another 3,512 claims were rejected.

Fisheries claims accounted for the largest category, with 33,649 claims paid totaling P1.071 billion pesos.

Clean-up and preventive measures represented 49 paid claims worth P1.629 billion pesos.

Tourism-related claims resulted in 33 payments of P2.035 million pesos.

No property damage claims have been approved or paid, though three such claims totaling P308,900 pesos were submitted.

Among local government units within Oriental Mindoro’s jurisdiction, only the municipalities of Mansalay, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bulalacao and Pola have filed claims, according to the letter.

Corpus said assessment and re-evaluation of other submitted claims are ongoing.

The MT Princess Empress, carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, sank off Oriental Mindoro in late February 2023, causing an environmental disaster that affected fishing and coastal areas in several provinces.

File photo: courtesy of the Philippine Coast Guard