If you lost a family member or were injured in the September 9 fire aboard the passenger ferry MV June Aster off Coron, Palawan, you and your family may be entitled to financial assistance from more than one source — government aid, mandatory maritime insurance, and the vessel operator's own liability coverage. Here is what is known so far about what you can claim, and where to go.
The confirmed death toll rose to 77 this week after a crew member who had been receiving treatment at Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital died on September 15, more than a week after the fire. As of this report, 43 people are confirmed as survivors and 12 remain unaccounted for, out of the 132 passengers and 17 crew who were aboard when the fire broke out roughly 1.2 nautical miles off Barangay Marcilla, Coron, on the evening of September 9.
What you're entitled to
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Regional Director Maximo Bañares Jr. said the vessel's operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., carries an estimated ₱64 million in insurance coverage. Under MARINA's own administrative rules, survivors are entitled to at least ₱50,000 in assistance, while the families of those who died are entitled to at least ₱200,000. "The P200,000 is based only on the administrative rules of MARINA," Bañares clarified — meaning that figure is a floor set by regulation, not a final settlement, and actual payouts may be higher depending on the insurance claims process.
Separately, the vessel's insurer, Western Guaranty Corp., is processing claims through Interclaim Adjuster Inc. covering death benefits, medical costs for the injured, and crew liabilities. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said transport regulators have ordered "immediate" processing of these claims. "The needs of the bereaved families and that of the survivors remain the government's top priority. We will make sure that aid and the compensation they deserve are provided immediately," Lopez said.
Where to go
A joint help desk has been set up at the Coron Municipal Hall in Palawan to assist survivors and families of the deceased with filing claims. Families outside Coron who are unable to travel should coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which has separately extended aid to survivors, or with the Philippine Coast Guard station handling the incident, to arrange representation or remote filing. As of this report, neither MARINA nor the insurer's claims administrator has published a public deadline for filing, so families should not assume there is no time pressure — it is worth confirming a cutoff date directly with the help desk rather than waiting.
Families should be prepared to bring identification documents, proof of relationship to the victim (such as a birth or marriage certificate), and any boarding or ticket records if available, though Pulpulitiko was unable to confirm a complete, official document checklist as of this report — families should ask the Coron help desk directly what will be required in their specific case.
Context
The fire's cause remains undetermined. Survivor accounts described a loud explosion followed by an immediate loss of electricity before flames spread through the vessel, and preliminary Coast Guard interviews pointed to the cargo hold as the possible point of origin. The vessel had passed a Philippine Coast Guard safety inspection as recently as March 2026. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan has separately called for a full accountability probe into the disaster, and the Department of Transportation has said "accountability will follow wherever it leads," though as of this report no administrative or criminal case against Atienza Interisland Ferries had been formally announced in connection with the June Aster fire specifically.
Sources
- Ferry June Aster fire death toll rises to 77 after survivor dies — Philstar.com, Renalyn Ramirez
- DOTr, Marina expedite MV June Aster payouts — The Manila Times
- MV June Aster ship fire — Wikipedia, for vessel operator and timeline background
