Govt to carry out the law as a response to
Tubbataha Reefs incident, Palace says
Malacanang said on Saturday that the Philippine
government will observe the law protecting the Tubbataha Reefs after a US Navy
minesweeper apparently damaged the area after running aground Thursday.
“There are laws that we have to implement... and
it is a World Heritage site, titingnan natin what the investigation of
concerned agencies will yield, kung ano ang magiging recommendations nila and
then, we move forward with the guidance of what the law provides,” Deputy
Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over
government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan Saturday.
The Palace official was responding to questions
by reporters on how the Philippine government would respond to the situation.
A legislator wants the US government to explain
Thursday’s incident and to know why the US Navy ship was inside the Philippine
jurisdiction.
Valte said concerned agencies will be conducting
its own investigation on how the USS Guardian ended up along the Tubbataha
Reefs.
"We have to find out muna ’yung mga
circumstances. As I mentioned yesterday, the primary concern is extricating the
ship out of the reef with minimal damage. Hindi pa natin makikita ang extent ng
damage hanggang matanggal ito at makababa ang mga divers natin doon to check.”
Reports said around 10 meters of corals were
damage by the minesweeper but Valte said it was just an estimate and no one can
figure out the extent of the damage until divers are dispatched to assess the
situation.
Local authorities said the government imposes a
fine of about $300 per square meter of damaged coral. A similar incident
happened in 2005 when a Greenpeace flagship struck a reef. The environment
group paid almost $7,000 for the damage.
Most of the US sailors left the USS Guardian for
safety reasons after initial efforts to free the vessel failed, the US Navy’s
7th Fleet said in a statement on Friday.
A small team of US Navy officers would remain on
board to try to extricate the USS Guardian with as little damage to environment
as possible, the statement noted.
The 68-meter long minesweeper ran aground
Thursday while in transit through the marine park. Philippine authorities said
there were no injuries or oil leaks, adding they are trying to evaluate the
damage to the protected coral reefs.
The Tubbataha Reefs, designated by Unesco as a
World Heritage Site in 1992, provides an important habitat for internationally
threatened and endangered marine species.
The reefs support many species of corals,
cetaceans, sharks, and fishes. PND (as)
Aquino to attend World Economic Forum Meeting in
Davos, Switzerland, next week
President Benigno S. Aquino III will join the
World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, on
January 23 to 26 that aims to facilitate global, regional and industry
transformation.
President Aquino, along with his official
delegation, will depart on Wednesday evening to join the other Heads of State
and the world business leaders to attend the annual meeting.
The Chief Executive will be joined by Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget
Secretary Butch Abad, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Socioeconomic Planning
Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras and
Communications Secretary Ramon Carandang.
During his visit to Davos, President Aquino will
have an opportunity to interact with other heads of state and business leaders
as well and share with them the country’s economic achievements.
“Among the events that the President will be
attending in Davos is the informal gathering of world economic leaders, which
will pave the way for a discussion on global economic issues with other world
leaders (who) have also been invited,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail
Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan Saturday.
Valte said the President is also scheduled to
deliver a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum's Partnering Against
Corruption event, where the Philippine leader will share the country’s
experience in battling corruption.
“President Aquino will have the opportunity to
meet and to discuss issues with global business leaders as part of our
continuing pitch that the Philippines is under new management and that we are open
for business,” the Deputy Spokesperson said.
“There will be other opportunities for the
President also to share what we have been doing, given that the Philippine
economy has so far been surpassing expectations in light of the global economic
slowdown that is happening in so many other economies,” she said.
The Deputy Spokesperson also said that President
Aquino will also meet the Filipino Community in Zurich on January 26 before his
return to Manila. PND (co)
NEDA Board approves five development projects
The National Economic and Development Authority
Board has approved several major infrastructure and anti-poverty projects
during its meeting on Friday. President Benigno S. Aquino III chairs the NEDA
Board.
Among the approved projects during the board
meeting include the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX Project), P35.57 billion;
NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project, P25.55 billion; and Adapting to Climate
Change through the Construction of Water Impounding Facilities in the
Philippines: Pasa Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Pasa SRIP).
The projects are funded by official development
assistance that costs P935.6 million and local government fund worth P93.41
million. The projects have a total project cost of P1.029 billion.
Other approved projects include the Proposed
Change in Scope of Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resources Management
Project (CHARMP II); P2.94 billion, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Service (KALAHI-CIDSS)
National Community Driven Development Project, P81.9 billion. PND (as)
