Experts determining worth of damage on Monad Shoal
After completing the actual measurements of the damaged portion in Monad Shoal, experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 are now conducting a biological assessment to determine the actual value of the damage caused by the Panamanian-registered cargo vessel MV Belle Rose when it ran aground.
“The measurements are done. The technical findings of BFAR and DENR, which are very important for the valuation, are being conducted and hopefully will be finished by tomorrow (today, Wednesday),” Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said in an interview at the Capitol yesterday morning.
Based on the results of the measurements, Tribunalo said they found out that the damaged area is between 2.5 to 3 hectares.
He added that aside from the BFAR and DENR, members of the Marine Biology Department of the University of San Carlos are also identifying the kinds of corals and fishes affected.
A workshop will then be held by the members of Task Force Monad Shoal tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss the final value of the damage together with the claims of the different stakeholders.
By Friday afternoon or Saturday, Tribunalo said they hope to already come up with the final figure which will be used as reference for the letter of guarantee which has to be executed by the ship’s owner to be able to push through with an amicable settlement with the different stakeholders affected.
Gov. Hilario Davide III also issued last week Executive Order No. 6 creating the Task Force Monad Shoal which is headed by Tribunalo.
It was tasked to evaluate the extent of the damage caused by MV Belle Rose as well as to consolidate all claims for damages against the ship owner to determine the appropriate compensation; and to negotiate settlement with ship owner, the Sun Ship Management Corp. Ltd. of Japan. The other task force members were representatives from the Daanbantayan local government, the DENR, BFAR, Philippine Coast Guard, and Maritime Industry Authority./ UP Cebu Intern Maurice Jitty M. Villaester
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