MANILA, Philippines (21 Jan 2004) -- AN OIL slick allegedly coming from a 450-ton liveaboard diving boat that ran aground off the coast of Occidental Mindoro province last month threatens to destroy Apo Reef, one of the country's remaining pristine marine sanctuaries. Environmentalists, fisher folk and legal advocacy groups called on the Coast Guard and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to compel the private operator of the abandoned MV Island Explorer to remove the vessel and clean up the affected waters. In a joint press conference, Pamalakaya, Kalikasan-Peoples Network for the Environment, and the Public Interest Law Center also bared plans to file criminal charges against the operator, Scuba World Inc., a Makati City-based company, for alleged violation of environmental protection laws. Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun told the Inquirer that she has ordered DENR-Region IV director Dionisio Tolentino to "instruct the company to remove the vessel but in coordination with our people to prevent further damage" to the reef. The Apo Reef Natural Park covers 16,000 hectares in the South China Sea. Declared a protected area in September 1996, the reef is home to 38 percent of marine species found in the country, including the endangered Green Sea and Hawksbill turtles. It also hosts 47 species of migratory and resident birds. The looming ecological disaster not only threatens a major tourist attraction but also the livelihood of local fishermen, mainly those from Sablayan town, Oriental Mindoro. | | Quoting reports from DENR's field personnel, Gozun said the ill-fated boat had already been emptied of fuel after the mishap. The persisting oil slick could be coming from the flooded engine room, not from the actual fuel tank, she said. The boat, a '70s model Japanese fishing vessel converted to ferry tourists and divers, left the Batangas provincial port in spite of bad weather. About 14 hours later, or before dawn of Dec. 21, it struck a portion of the reef called Apo Manor, according to PILC lawyer Marie Yuvienco. The 37 passengers and crew were safely evacuated. Photos of the site taken last Saturday revealed bunker fuel leaking from the 150-foot-long vessel now lying on its starboard side "on top of the reef," Yuvienco told reporters in Quezon City. The photos were taken by Pamalakaya supporters based in Mindoro, according to the group's spokesperson Gerry Albert Corpuz. "Factoring in the fuel consumption on its trip to the reef, the boat should have about 80,000 liters of fuel left," Yuvienco said. "That's more than enough to destroy the entire Apo Reef." The mishap could have been prevented had the Island Explorer's crew not proceeded to the reef at night and during stormy weather, she said. The groups identified the owner of ScubaWorld as businessman Juan Wee. The company's operations manager Mario Elumba declined to comment pending "proper documentation" of the incident. SOURCE - Inquirer, CDS |
