Damage to Batangas coral reefs feared

OFF-LIMITS The 2.5-hectare Batalang Bato Marine Sanctuary in Tingloy, Batangas province, isone of the earlier established underwater sanctuaries, strictly off-limits to fishing and tourism activities. —PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITEDNATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME PHILIPPINES

Marine conservationists are trying to determine the extent of damage to coral reefs after a cargo ship ran aground at a marine sanctuary in the town of Tingloy, Batangas province, at the height of Typhoon Quinta (international name: Molave).

Princess Aldovino, who chairs the management committee of Batalang Bato Marine Sanctuary, said portions of the reef system were damaged but her team could not document the extent since the MV Princess Anabelle is still marooned off Barangay Sto. Tomas in Tingloy.

She said though that the shipowner, who is from Tablas Island in Romblon province, had already been in touch with the community and was planning to visit the site this week.

The vessel was only one of several maritime incidents in Batangas recorded by the Philippine Coast Guard when Quinta struck the province on Oct. 26.

Swept away

Aldovino said two ship workers were on board when the ship, originally docked in Batangas City, was swept away by big waves and current to the island town. The crew members were rescued and debriefed by the Coast Guard.

The typhoon also left a more visible damage to houses of 148 families in Sto. Tomas.

Of the seven boats that normally ferried Tingloy residents to the mainland town of Mabini, four needed repairs, Aldovino said.

Power has not been restored since the typhoon “and we rely only on some households that owned generators to charge our cell phones,” she said.

Drinking water in plastic gallons are delivered from Mabini to Tingloy twice a week.

“We were worried the next typhoon might sweep the ship toward the houses so we evacuated families along the coastline. Luckily, Typhoon “Rolly” (Goni) changed its path and we were spared,” Aldovino said.

She said volunteer divers were planning to survey the sanctuary on Nov. 14.

Established in March 2003, the 2.5-hectare Batalang Bato is one of the few sanctuaries strictly off-limits to fishermen and to tourists planning on snorkeling and diving.

It is also one of the earliest sanctuaries established across the country, said Vincent Hilomen, project manager of SMARTSeas.

SMARTSeas, or Strengthening the Marine Protected Area System to Conserve Marine Key Biodiversity Areas, is a special project service of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the protection of key marine areas.