Dead and dying corals spanning an area of over 4,000 square meters (sqm) is the latest known extent of the damage the stranding of the USS Guardian has wrought at the Tubbataha Reef, the head of the marine park's monitors said Saturday.
Angelique Songco, Tubbataha marine park manager, said the
most recent damage assessment showed that the area the US Navy's minesweeper
ship has affected is worse than the initial estimate of 1,000 sqm.
“First time kasi 'yung sa harap lang. You see that picture?
'Yung may ano, so ngayon yung ibang impact areas nahanap na at na-assess na and
so it is 4,000 plus,” Songco said in an interview with reporters that formed
part of a report of GMA News' Bernadette Reyes on the '24 Oras' newscast.
Four thousand square meters is about the size of ten basketball courts. According to FIBA rules, the dimensions of a playing court for amateur basketball is 28 meters by 15 meters or 420 square meters, an area which when multiplied by 10, totals 4,200 square meters.
Songco told reporters that the latest damage estimates were based on data from the US Navy.
The stranded warship weighs 1,300 tons, according to its US
Navy webpage. It has been atop the Tubbataha corals since January 17.
Earlier, the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau said that the US Navy may be fined for at least about P12,000 or $300 per square meter of damaged corals.
With the latest impact assessment, the minimum mandatory fine could be at about P48 million. The additional fine for rehabilitation efforts would be another $300 and could raise the total fine to about P96 million.
With the latest impact assessment, the minimum mandatory fine could be at about P48 million. The additional fine for rehabilitation efforts would be another $300 and could raise the total fine to about P96 million.
“Like a ticking taxi meter, the passing of each minute and hour raises the stakes,” World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Philippines vice chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan was quoted as saying in a post on the WWF Philippines website. Tan is a member of the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board.
“However, safety must be chosen over speed – hasty efforts might do further harm to the reef,” Tan also said.
“However, safety must be chosen over speed – hasty efforts might do further harm to the reef,” Tan also said.
The Philippine Coast Guard's Task Force Tubbataha said the
first of two crane
ships sent to help remove the USS Guarddian was supposed to have arrived at
the reef Friday but was delayed by bad weather at Singapore. That crane ship is
now expected to arrive at the salvage site on Sunday.
Much of the warship’s potentially harmful content –
including 15,000 gallons of fuel – have been removed from the ship. The US Navy
noted that no oil spill occurred.
Likewise, the US Navy said that it will dismantle and safely remove the 23-year-old ship from the reef, "in sections."
"Guardian is badly damaged and with the deteriorating integrity of the ship, the weight involved, and where it is grounded on the reef, dismantling in sections is the only supportable option," said Capt. Darryn James, US Pacific Fleet spokesman.
"We have the right team of experienced professionals to conduct this complex operation and to ensure that it is done safely while minimizing damage to the surrounding marine environment," James added.
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