DESPITE the ongoing recovery operations on the dismantling of the US Navy minesweeper, USS Guardian (which remains aground at the Tubbataha Reef), Pinoysremain vehement weeks after the incident.
The US government reiterated its commitment to pay for the damages caused by the Tubbataha Reef mishap.
“In view of damages caused by the USS Guardian accident at Tubbataha Reef, the United States has expressed its regrets and is prepared to provide appropriate compensation to the Republic of the Philippines. In addition to compensation, the US government is planning a number of other activities which will underscore its commitment to Tubbataha’s recovery and the protection of the marine resources of the Philippines,” the US embassy in Manila said in its statement.
Following the Jan. 17 brouhaha, the US Navy apologized for the damage caused by the accident to the UNESCO-declared world heritage site. Visiting members of the US House of Representatives, who met up with President Aquino last week, also expressed their country’s regrets over the incident.
Malacañang welcomed the US government’s pledge to provide appropriate compensation for the restoration efforts, but maintained that fines and penalties will still be given until the extent of damages are fully assessed.
“Certainly, we have seen their commitment to preserving the reef as part of their previous efforts and certainly, these are acknowledgment of the importance of the richness of the biodiversity that is found in Tubbataha Reef,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
But even the consensus is not enough to cushion the blow for Filipinos, who made a huge hubbub over the accident.
Various militant groups staged protests at the US embassy in Manila to further express their dismay.
“Filipino women condemn both the rape of the Tubbataha Reefs and the continuing rape by American forces of our resources and patrimony,” said Camille Manangan of the GABRIELA YOUTH during their protest last week.
“The US can freely trample on Philippine laws and get away with nary a question or protest raised by our government, and the US gets away unscathedd through the VFA,” she added. The group also criticized the Philippine government for taking the matter lightly.
Adding fuel to the fire was Donald Trump Jr.’s controversial tweet, where he said that the American minesweeper is more important than the damaged reef.
“Yes, a $277-million boat is more important than a 200×50 section of reef that has already been run over,” posted Trump Jr. on his Twitter account last Jan. 30. He was reacting to the news by Drudge Report that the $277-million USS Guardian will be dismantled to avoid further damage to the coral reef.
The comment instantly engaged netizens to lash out on the American businessman.
In his defense, Trump Jr. said that the whole reef “was not destroyed” and the he was just referring to damaged part, “just a chunk the size of a boat.”
However, Pinoys won’t let Trump Jr.’s tweets slide easily.
And contrary to what most people think, the gravity of the situation involves more than just the 4,000 square-meter damage to the Tubbataha Reef.
Not only will it take decades for the marine diversity to recuperate, the effect caused by the Tubbataha incident 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, and nearby fishing grounds in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The extent of damages can only be determined when the vessel is removed from the area and when a complete assessment can be made. Until then, the uproar will only get louder by the day.
(AJPress)
