Oil spill threatens one of world's best dive sites

An oil spill coming from a diving boat that ran aground last month at the Apo Manor Reef, a protected marine park off Mindoro Island, is threatening to destroy one of the world’s best dive sites.

Residents of Barangay Siblayan in Occidental Mindoro, a nearby coastal town, led by its Mayor Godofredo Minto, said that the M/V Island Explorer has started to leak bunker fuel, endangering the reef which serves as a fish nursery and the major source of livelihood of the surrounding communities.

The residents have sought the help of the non-government group, Public Interest Law Center (PILC), to compel the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agencies — the Apo Reef National Park Authority, the Protected Areas Management Bureau and the Philippine Coast Guard — to undertake a clean-up of the oil spill while environmental charges are being contemplated against the operator of the diving boat.

The M/V Island Explorer is reportedly owned by Chinese businessman Juan Wee of Scuba World and Dive World.

"We have written a letter to DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun and strongly urged her department to order an immediate clean-up of the oil spill and tow the vessel from the area to prevent potentially irreversible damage to the marine park," said PILC legal counsel Marie Francesca T.J. Yuvienco.

She said that the vessel left the port of Batangas at about 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 last year en route to the Apo Manor Reef, carrying 24 passengers composed of diver-tourists, dive masters and crew.

Despite the poor weather condition, the 150-foot, 450-ton Japanese-made fishing boat that was converted into a diving vessel, proceeded with the trip and entered the Apo Manor Reef at about 2:30 a.m. of Dec. 21.

"This is in utter disregard of elementary diligence required in traversing such areas and because of this, along with stormy weather that caused 15-foot waves, the vessel crashed on top of the reef. Until now, the vessel, lying on its side, has not been towed by its operator. An inspection last weekend confirmed there is an undetermined amount of oil spill that could get worse," said Yuvienco.

She explained that diving boats should only start to cruise the protected reef at daylight but the boat left at night and arrived at the reef before daylight.

Yuvienco said the Coast Guard has been alerted about the situation but since the incident, it has not compelled Wee to remove the boat. Wee earlier promised to remove the wreckage from the reef as soon as the weather clears but has failed to act on the matter.

Yuvienco noted that that the boat could have about 80,000 liters of bunker fuel left, which is more than enough to destroy the entire Apo Manor Reef and even spill to Palawan.

PILC asked Secretary Gozun to order Wee to tow the boat from the reef and repair the damage done. It also recommended to the DENR to suspend the company’s permits and license to operate pending the outcome of the investigation of the seaworthiness of the company’s fleet.

"We are also considering filing criminal and civil charges against the company and for violation of environment and protection laws under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), which identifies protected areas such as the Apo Manor Reef," said Yuvienco.

The NIPAS Act prohibits the dumping of any waste products within protected areas like the reef.

Environmentalists said the oil spill will have far-reaching effects on marine life in the waters off Mindoro and affect the livelihood of fishermen in the island.

Dr. Teresita Perez, a marine scientist from the Ateneo de Manila University and a member of the Samahan ng Nagtatanggol ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan, said the oil spill, even if just above water, would have a disastrous effect on live corals.

"These corals are alive and need oxygen and light to survive. Different species of fish, some of which can only be found in the reef, feed on these corals. The death of these corals will definitely cause the fish to go elsewhere, endangering the livelihood of nearby fishermen while the tourism industry loses one of its major attractions, especially among divers," noted Perez.

The Apo Manor Reef National Park is one of the more frequented dive sites in Occidental Mindoro.

It is acclaimed as one of the world’s best dive sites. It is a 34-kilometer reef, located 20 miles west of Mindoro proper and off the tip of Busuanga, Palawan, with a narrow channel running east to west, which divides the reef into two lagoon systems.

The surrounding waters are abundant with marine fauna and luxuriant coral growth with more than 500 coral species. Marine life includes sharks, stingrays and manta rays.