DENR to probe reports of Chinese ships dumping poop in Spratlys

Where it allegedly happened.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Tuesday it would investigate claims that raw sewage or poop spilled by hundreds of ships stationed in the Spratly Islands had caused coral reef damage in the region.

“On the issue of waste disposal in the West Philippine Sea, we will coordinate with [h] the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) and DND (Department of National Defense) first on the authenticity of the allegation,” DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said in a message to reporters.

“After that, we will b[e] seeking the attention of the Chinese gov’t thru our DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs). We will also validate if indeed [these] are Chinese vessels,” he added.

This developed after reports that Chinese ships near the Spratly Islands allegedly were dumping raw sewage — or poop — in the waters.

READ: China marks intrusion in PH EEZ with most unsavory waste—poop

According to US geospatial firm Simularity, the damage caused by dumping raw sewage onto reefs in just the last five years is visible from space.

The Co-founder and CEO of Simularity Liza Derr said “hundreds of ships that are anchored there are dumping raw sewage, every day onto the reefs they are occupying.”

Based on satellite images gathered by Simularity, damage to reefs in some parts of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea in the last five years caused by sewage effluent is “visible and dramatic,” on top of marine destruction caused by China’s artificial island building and illegal harvest of giant clams.