Monad Shoal damage assessment complete

CEBU, Philippines - The task force created to assess the damage at the Monad Shoal after a foreign vessel ran aground on the reefs off Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan has already completed the assessment.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the Task Force Monad Shoal has finished measuring the actual damaged area.

Tribunalo, however, has not disclosed the estimated cost of the total damage pending the results of the biological assessment quantifying the damage to the marine ecosystem.

The assessment includes the determination of the damaged species of corals and the fishes that are dependent on the habitat.

 The results, which are expected to be out on Friday or Saturday, will become the Capitol’s basis in demanding payment from the shipping firm.

“The amount will be the basis for the letter of guarantee which will be made by the ship owner to push through with an amicable settlement,” Tribunalo said after yesterday’s briefing.

 The amount of the security required by the province must be based on the assessment of the extent and severity of the damage to the coral reefs on Monad Shoal after the ship ploughed through the reefs.

 On Thursday, Tribunalo said a workshop with other stakeholders will be held to finalize the damage claims against the ship owner.

 All aggrieved parties will be asked to present their claims before the task force and these will be consolidated and presented to the ship management of MV Belle Rose.

 Tribunalo said the vessel is still in San Fernando unloading its cargo of clinker for cement production.

 He said the ship is set to sail this weekend to Keppel Subic Shipyard in Zambales Province where it will undergo repairs.

He assured that until the letter of guarantee is made, the ship won’t be allowed to leave the country. (FREEMAN)