Phl to ask P58.3M from US for damages to Tubbataha

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 6): Phl to ask P58.3M from US for damages to Tubbataha

The Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board (TPAMB) is seeking P58.3 million from the United States for damages to the coral reefs when its minesweeper USS Guardian run aground in January.

A demand letter for payment of the reef damage will be issued to the United States navy through the Department of Foreign Affairs at the soonest possible time according to TPAMB.

The computation was concluded Friday afternoon based on what is in Republic Act 10067 or the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act. The law states that a fine of P12,000 per square meter is mandatory, and another P12,000 per square meter to be prescribed for rehabilitation.

Based on the result of the assessment, the actual reef damage was measured to have reached 2,345.67 square meters which is smaller than the earlier estimate of 4,000 square meters.

“The difference in the estimates of the damage area was in the methodology used, but the one used yesterday was more accurate using shaped polygons which follow the natural contours of the reefs,” said Jose Lorenzo Tan, CEO of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines and TPAMB member.

The joint assessment team conducted the actual survey and inspection of the affected areas on April 3-4 composed of marine scientists and experts from the Tubbataha Management Office, WWF Philippines, UP Marine Science Institute and a marine expert from the US Navy.

He said that according to the Filipino scientists there was less damage due to the fact that the hull of the minesweeper was made of wood. “There could have been bigger damage had it been made of steel,” said Tan.

He said that the TPAMB acknowledges the efforts of the US navy in the handling and the conduct itself of the salvage operation which explored all possibilities to prevent further damage.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=711365163761