Chinese ship causes P11-M damage to coral reef - report

Around P11 million in damages must be paid to the Philippines after the anchor of a Chinese maritime militia vessel that almost skidded at a coral reef near Pag-asa Island in Palawan ruined corals, according to findings by an environmental body.

- By GHIO ONG

The parachute anchor of Chinese maritime militia ship with bow number 16868 plowed through corals at Pag-asa Reef 1, around 2.6 kilometers east of Pag-asa Island, at an estimated depth of nine meters last June 7, according to Mark Ace dela Cruz, chief of the habitat management system of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

He pointed out the area was within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island, which has been trespassed by the Chinese maritime militia.

The anchor, which he explained "was used to limit the drag of the vessel and keep itself afloat," damaged around 307 square meters of corals where its canopy and nylon ropes dropped.

The six-man team that inspected the area said they saw "broken fragments of branching corals and chipped off fragments of massive corals, both hard and soft."

Asked why the parachute anchor was not removed during the assessment, Dela Cruz said it was too heavy to carry and equipment would be needed to do so without further damaging the corals.