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DFA calls for stop to activities harmful to environment in WPS


September 20 ------ THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expressed concern about reports of the destruction of corals in Rozul Reef, a maritime feature located in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).


Corals that grow in abundance in the shallow waters close to Rozul (Iroquios) Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have disappeared, apparently due to massive harvesting, an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official said on Saturday. Vice Admiral Albert Carlos, AFP Western Command chief, said that this was what their divers discovered after surveying the Rozul Reef, where Chinese maritime militia vessels had been monitored by Philippine military air assets to be "swarming" on September 6 and 7. "The Philippines has consistently raised the alarm over ecologically harmful activities, conducted by foreign vessels, in our maritime zones, an issue extensively discussed in the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea," the DFA said. "We, therefore, call on everyone concerned to act responsibly and cease all activities that can damage our precious marine environment," the Foreign Affairs department said in a statement. The DFA added, "The well-being of millions of people who depend on the South China Sea for their livelihood is at stake."


Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri expressed outrage over the destruction of the marine ecosystem in the WPS as the continued intrusion of Chinese vessels into the Philippines' EEZ threatens global food security. Zubiri was referring to the reported damage to coral reefs in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where dozens of Chinese maritime militia vessels have been seen roaming illegally. "This is not a destruction only on the Philippine side, but for the whole world," the Senate chief said in a chance interview. He said the coral reefs belong to the "whole world because the species of fish that breed there are not only being harvested by Filipino fishermen, but also harvested by Malaysian fishermen, Vietnamese fishermen, even Chinese fishermen." "So it is for the good of the world if our coral reefs are protected. That's why I'm really very mad," Zubiri added.


He said the Senate is working closely with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in setting up marine ranger stations in key coastal areas nationwide to safeguard the country's marine resources in the WPS. Zubiri said he has spoken with Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, to earmark P600 million for the initiative. He also vowed to fight for bigger allotments for the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy in the national budget for 2024 to help them in purchasing additional partial boats and other equipment. "This budget is a critical budget. This is the time that we have to put our money where our mouth is. This is the time that we need to increase the budget for ships, patrol crafts and marine research centers," Zubiri said.


Under the proposed P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget, the PCG has been allocated P24.014 billion, an increase of nearly 10 percent from its allotment of P21.92 billion this year. On the other hand, P40.97 billion has been set aside for the Navy, up from its current budget of P34.98 billion.


Source: manilatimes.net


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