00:00Meanwhile, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development or PCSD demands the foreign Chinese vessel that rammed the Pag-Asa Reef 1 to be liable for the damages it costed.
00:09Our Patrick De Jesus provides the details in their support.
00:13This is the parachute anchor discovered by divers from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development during their environmental assessment at Pag-Asa Reef 1.
00:23It is believed to have been left behind by a Chinese maritime militia vessel that ran aground in the area last month.
00:32Broken and damaged corals were also found, possibly as a result of the parachute anchor from the Chinese vessel.
00:39We conclude based on our observation that the damages on the reef diyan po sa impacted area ay caused by yung drag mismo nung reef anchor.
00:53According to the PCSD's assessment, over 400 square meters or 30% of Pag-Asa Reef 1 sustained damage.
01:02The estimated cost of the damage reaches Php 11.1 billion.
01:06Because of this, coral reef rehabilitation has been recommended.
01:11PCSD also stated that the foreign Chinese vessel should be held liable for the damage, a recommendation supported by the National Task Force, West Philippine Sea.
01:22The National Task Force for West Philippine Sea expresses concern over the reported, disreported environmental damage caused by a Chinese vessel near Pag-Asa Reef No. 1,
01:37approximately 2.6 kilometers east of Pag-Asa Island.
01:42We are hopeful that through the Department of Foreign Affairs, we can be able to reach out to them and to present to them the damages that they incurred because of that grounding incident.
01:54The parachute anchor remains at a section of Pag-Asa Reef 1 and it will continue to cause harm to the reefs unless it is removed.
02:03This may affect not only the coral habitat but also the livelihoods of local fishers and the broader marine ecosystem.
02:10The anchor parachute will continue to cover the corals, denying access to sunlight, which without sunlight, the coral reef will die.
02:21You lose the coral reefs, you damage the coral reefs, you lose spawning capability.
02:28You lose shelter and you lose part of the food chain.
02:33So, if you destroy the coral reefs, our fish tank, our other natural resources will diminish as well.
02:41Plans are underway for the immediate removal of the parachute anchor, which must be done carefully to prevent further damage to the reefs.
02:49It spans around 300 square meters and was spotted at a shallow depth of 9 meters.
02:56Based on PCSD's findings, the use of parachute anchors by Chinese vessels is considered extremely dangerous.
03:04I'm not sure what is the specific reason why they changed from the traditional anchor to parachute anchor.
03:11But as what we have seen, the danger of the parachute anchor, especially in those areas na mayroong coral and mga mababang area na maritime features,
03:25this is very dangerous, kasi nakakatalag siya.
03:27Meanwhile, two Navy warships of the People's Liberation Army Navy, which were first monitored last Saturday, 69 nautical miles off the coast of Cabra Island, Occidental Mindoro, have already departed.
03:42They were accompanied by a Chinese Coast Guard escort vessel, which was hailed by a radio by the deployed PCG ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanwa.
03:52The PCG continues to monitor this China Coast Guard vessel.
03:56It remains to be being shadowed by the European Coast Guard in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinlo.
04:03But with regard to the PLA Navy warships, it's no longer within our own exclusive economic zone. It already went westward.
04:11The NTF-WPS chose not to entertain China's continued non-recognition of the 2016 Arbitral Award.
04:20The Philippines asserted that the ruling is legal and valid and the country will continue to stand firm in its position on the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law.
04:32Patrick De Jesus from the National TV for a New and Better Philippines.
