BFAR asked to explain threat of cement in sunken ship in Lapu

THE Lapu-Lapu City government is asking officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to explain the possible threats of the effect of the thousands of sacks of cement in the sunken vessel off the shores of barangay Canjulao.

Luzviminda Bato, BFAR chemist, said, that the sacks of cement when exposed to water would become solid, but if the cement powder would be scattered or mixed with seawater then it would result in turbidity, which would prevent sunlight from penetrating the seabed.

Bato said this would result to poor photosynthesis and evenutally kill the ecosystem.

“To make sure we won’t be affected by eating the fishes and other marine lives taken from these affected areas, just don’t include cooking the internal organs of the fishes or don’t forget to wash the shells thoroughly,” said Bato.

During the latest monitoring of the Task Force Kalikasan (TFK) scuba divers, they found that the sacks of cement carried by the vessel had turned solid.

But they weren’t sure if all had turned solid because they had only checked the upper part of the vessel.

The TFK also found out that the vessel had no anchor, which was detached using an underwater acetylyne torch.

They also discovered that the vessel’s radar antenna was missing.

The TFK said that no one was guarding the vessel since it sank a week ago and thieves could have taken advantage of that./Correspondent Norman

V. Mendoza