MANILA, Philippines – Nagtamo ng environmental damage ang mga coral reef sa Pag-asa Reef 1 matapos mabalahaw ang isang barko ng China noong nakaraang buwan, sinabi ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) nitong Lunes, Hulyo 14.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ng NTF-WPS na ang Chinese vessel na may bow number 16868 ay nanatili sa lugar sa loob ng tatlong oras bago ito tuluyang makaalis nang walang kinakailangang tulong.
“It was later accompanied out of the area by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and two other Chinese vessels,” ayon pa sa NTF-WPS.
“While it did not run aground directly on the coral reef, the vessel’s anchoring activity caused significant damage to the surrounding reef area.”
Ang Reef 1 ay nasa 2.6 kilometro silangan ng Pag-asa Island.
Anang NTF-WPS, ang insidente ay nangyari noong Hunyo 7 kasabay ng heightened activity ng Chinese maritime militia at mga barko ng CCG sa territorial sea ng Pag-asa Island.
“The vigilance of our coastal communities, as demonstrated by the timely report from a local fisherfolk, remains vital in safeguarding our marine resources. Their lived experience at sea reflects not only environmental risks but also daily threats to their safety, livelihood, and dignity,” sinabi pa ng task force.
Dahil dito, sinabi ng NTF-WPS na susuportahan nito ang rekomendasyon ng Palawan Council for Sustainable Development sa reef rehabilitation at pagpapatupad ng environmental accountability sa ilalim ng batas ng Pilipinas.
“We remain committed to safeguarding the West Philippine Sea, preserving our marine ecosystems, and upholding the well-being of the communities that depend on them.” RNT/JGC
