Princess Empress – IOPC Funds’ onsite visit

Deputy Director, Liliana Monsalve and Claims Manager, Ana Cuesta travelled to the Philippines from 19 to 28 June 2023. They held meetings with local authorities and various stakeholders involved in the Princess Empress incident, including fisherfolk, fish market vendors and claims collectors operating in the different collection centres, also known as “caravans”.

They took the opportunity to visit the Claims Submission Office (CSO) in Calapan, as well as four of the collection centres located in the affected barangays in Mindoro.  The claims collection centres were jointly established by the shipowner’s P&I insurer (the Shipowners’ P&I Club) and the IOPC Funds specifically to accommodate claimants residing in remote areas. These visits by the Secretariat provided an excellent opportunity to assess the progress of the claim submissions.

Moreover, productive meetings were held with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other government agencies involved in the spill response.  The IOPC Funds is particularly grateful for the assistance provided by the PCG during the visit and their ongoing cooperation.

The IOPC Funds is pleased to note that the response and clean-up operations are at a final stage, marking a significant milestone in this incident.

The organisation remains committed to providing every assistance to claimants for the submission of their claims and it continues to make dedicated efforts to ensure that the affected victims receive prompt compensation and the support they require.

Further information regarding the latest developments in the incident can be found at: www.princessempressinformationcentre.com

Specific information for claimants, including claim forms, which are available in both English and Tagalog, can be found here.