CRUSHED CORALS – This photograph taken during a survey by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of the seabed of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, conducted between Aug. 9 and Sept. 11, shows what appears to be a fresh pile of coral rubble, their bleached color indicating they were dumped there recently. The shoal is about 180 kilometers west of Palawan province. (Photo from PCG)
MANILA, Philippine — The damage to marine resources in the West Philippine Sea will not only affect the ecosystem and food security of Philippines, but the entire region, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) spokesperson Nazario Briguera said on Monday.
Chinese maritime militia vessels reportedly damaged the Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“Dapat nating maintindihan na may tinatawag tayong interconnectivity ng ating marine ecosystem. Iyong pagkasira na nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea ay hindi lamang ito pagkasira sa panig ng Pilipinas. Inilalagay din nito sa alanganing sitwasyon ang fish sufficiency at ang food security ng lahat ng mga bansang nasa region, nasa paligid ng regions na iyon, ng West Philippine Sea,” said Briguera in the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.
(We must understand what we call the interconnectivity of our marine ecosystem. The damage in the West Philippine Sea will not only affect the Philippines, it will affect the fishing situation and food security of all the countries in the region, around those regions of the West Philippine Sea.)
Briguera said that the BFAR shares the position of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea that any presence by foreigners in the West Philippine Sea is a danger to sovereignty.
The BFAR spokesperson admitted that fishing in the disputed waters remains a challenge.
“Nandiyan po ang pamahalaan, sinusuportahan po tayo. Sa kabila ng hamong ito, ang pamahalaan po ay kakampi ng ating mga mangingisda,” he said.
(The government is here to support you. Despite these challenges, the government stands with fishermen.)