EITHER laws are not properly implemented and followed, or someone’s pursuing a vendetta against the Tubbattaha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Philippines’ most prized possessions.
It took three strenuous months for the Philippine and US governments to complete the salvaging operations on the USS Guardian, which got accidentally grounded in TNRP on January 17.
The extent of damages caused by this incident include the destruction of 2,345 square meters of the reef, the dismantling and turning into scrap metal of a $277-million minesweeper ship and a $1.4 million fine charged against the US government.
The fine will be used as compensation for the park’s rehabilitation. Malacañang earlier belied calls for diplomatic protests against its US counterpart and assured that it will seek full accountability for the damages done.
This is not the first grounding incident in the TNRP. Previous cases have been settled with appropriate fines and sanctions.
One would assume something as tragic and expensive as the US Minesweeper fiasco would be the last — yet it wasn’t the case.
Lo and behold, just nine days after the successful extraction of the US minesweeper, a Chinese fishing vessel bearing hull number 63168 and with 12 crew members (believed to be poachers on board) ran aground the TRNP on Monday night.
While a complete assessment on the damages and violations caused by the Chinese vessel are yet to be presented, Philippine Navy (PN) spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo assured that they may not be as extensive as the US minesweeper, at least based on the area affected.
The PN is in close coordination with the Tubattaha Management Office (TMO) whose Park Rangers are now conducting investigation and with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) based in Palawan for the enforcement of maritime laws.
According to UNESCO, TRNP is home to a vast array of sea, air and land creatures, as well as sizable lagoons and two coral islands.
About 500 species of fish and 350 species of coral can be found there, as well as whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and breeding seabirds.
Under the jurisdiction of the Philippine government, the TNRP is managed to maintain, protect and conserve its globally significant economic, biological and sociocultural values into perpetuity for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
Republic Act 10067 (otherwise known as the TRNP Act of 2009) has been enacted, to ensure that this vision is achieved. This law clearly states TNRP is a no-take zone and banned from extractive uses, with only tourism and research activities allowed.
Every damage done to TNRP will take decades for the marine diversity to recuperate. The effect will also take its toll on at at least 100,000 fishermen and workers on fishing vessels in the West Palawan Sea and Sulu-Celebes Sea, as well as nearby fishing grounds in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Clearly, despite being protected by stringent national and international laws, TRNP is still vulnerable to perpetrators and encroachment challenges. These incidents call for stronger enforcement of such laws. It is both the responsibility of the government and the people to defend and preserve this delicate natural resource for generations to come.
(AJPress)
