College editors decry unjust compensation for Tubbataha damages; calls eviction of US forces

From the leftist/pro-CPP Bicol Today (Feb 22): College editors decry unjust compensation for Tubbataha damages; calls eviction of US forces

The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), received the amount of P87,033,570. 71 ($1.97 M) as compensation for the damages incurred when the USS Guardian crushed some parts of the Tubbataha Reef Park last January 13, 2013.

A rough estimate of the permanent damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site may reach up P737.8 million ($16.8 million) to P1.2 billion ($27 million), but US only paid 7.3% – 11.73%.

“The damage of the US government is colossal. No monetary amount can essentially compensate the destruction of natural resources which actually takes thousands of years to form. The US should pay more to at least alleviate the downtrodden reefs,” College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) National President Marc Lino Abila said.

The Guild contends this issue scores beyond accidental damages. “The issue of the destructed Tubbataha is an issue of national sovereignty. If not for the presence of the US military, the major portions of Tubbataha Reef should have been intact till now,” Abila further commented.

Furthermore, the CEGP calls that US compensation should directly proceed to the rehabilitation process of the reef area which is considered as ‘crown jewel of the Philippine seas.’

“Our only logical step to protect the environment and to uphold national sovereignty is to terminate all unilateral treaties that support foreign military presence. All US armed forces must be evicted out of this country to fully achieve a national democracy,” Abila ended.

CEGP is the oldest, broadest, and only-existing alliance of tertiary student publications in the Asia-Pacific region.

http://bicoltoday.com/2015/02/22/college-editors-decry-unjust-compensation-for-tubbataha-damages-calls-eviction-of-us-forces/