The governing body of the Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS) has resolved for stringent measures for coastal and marine resources protection following the ship grounding incident in the marine protected area.

 

The PIPLS covers 8,048 hectares with 1,008-hectare coral reefs, 472-hectare seagrasses, and 102-hectare mangroves. It gained recognition as an outstanding marine protected area showcasing best management practices.

 

In its recent meeting, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) approved the proposal to install floating dock to avoid coral destruction and free the beach area from boats.

 

“Palaui Island as a protected area should as much as possible not be used as a sheltering area, but we understand the plight of the vessels and crew at that time. They needed protection from the strong typhoon,” PAMB chairperson and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cagayan Valley executive director Gwendolyn Bambalan said.

 

According to Director Bambalan, the DENR will initiate a meeting with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority, and Philippine Navy to discuss whose mandate is to define the area for sheltering of vessels during typhoon.

 

“We need to request for an interagency meeting to clarify whose responsibility and authority is the determination of sheltering during typhoon. The protected area incidentally is located adjacent to the Babuyan Channel, where international vessels usually pass through,” Director Bambalan said.

 

The regional environment chief added that the interagency conference is necessary to review the response plan for Palaui Island. The meeting is also an avenue to tackle policy gaps, and to determine computation of cost of damage to ecosystem services including restoration cost.

 

On July 27, the DENR team that conducted monitoring within the PIPLS reported two shipping vessels grounded within the protected waters of Palaui Island. The ships were contracted by JDVC Resources Inc., a large-scale offshore mining company with approved Mineral Production Sharing Agreement.

 

The vessels, namely, Tug SEDAR 7 and MB SIPHON I were allegedly pushed toward the shallow waters and run aground due to the “successive heavy freak waves” at the peak of Typhoon “Egay” midnight of July 26.

 

A ship grounding team composed of representatives from the DENR, BFAR, PCG, Environmental Management Bureau, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Local Government Unit of Sta. Ana, Cagayan was immediately deployed to assess the possible damages to corals and other marine resources of the protected area. The team led the conduct of degrounding, ocular inspection, rapid assessment, and in-depth underwater assessment

 

Per initial report of the team during the PAMB meeting, a total of 1,422 sq.m. of corals were damaged.

 

"Different species of hard corals and lime rocks were found cracked and detached or removed from the base,” the report stated. The team added that a red painted mark in coral reef and hard bottom habitat (massive) was found and suspected came from the hull of the Tug boat SEDAR 7.

 

As agreed, the PAMB through the DENR will submit report to the Biodiversity Management Bureau and will request guidance on the value and the fines to be collected for the damages incurred based on the conditions of the corals.

 

The JDVC Resources Inc. assured the Palaui Island management board that it will address the damages.

 

Prior to the incident, the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee of Region 2 chaired by Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Mario Ancheta held a meeting with JDVC Resources Inc. for a smooth operation in the waters off Cagayan province. In that meeting which was initiated by Director Bambalan who co-chairs the committee, various requirements of concerned government agencies involved in the offshore mining operations were discussed.#