'Mindoro oil spill damage hits P41 B

As stakeholders prepare to observe the first anniversary of the sinking of the motor tanker Princess Empress, the amount of damage caused by the subsequent oil spill has increased to P41.2 billion, an environmental group said yesterday.

- BELLA CARIASO

Gerry Arances, executive director of the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, estimated the damage to the environment at P40.1 billion and to the socio-economic sector at P1.1 billion.

Arances released the damage report two days before the first anniversary of the major maritime accident, which occurred in the waters off Naujan on Feb. 28, 2023.

“This is 800 times higher compared to the estimates of certain government agencies,” Arances said.