USS Guardian & Tubbataha Reef

[R E M I N D]

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no action from malacanang palace

[machinecult]

no action from malacanang palace

Naghuwat ra sila sa kwarta na e bayad. For the meantime ila pa ni gi sensationalize ug maayo. Environmental fear mongering.

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HONOLULU — The U.S. Navy plans to dismantle a minesweeper that ran aground on a coral reef off the Philippines because the ship is a complete loss and because removing it intact would cause more damage to the reef and the ship’s hull, a spokesman said Wednesday.

There’s also a chance the USS Guardian might break up or sink if crews tried to remove it without taking it apart first, U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Darryn James said.
Limiting damage to the coral, which is part of a national marine park, is important to the Navy, James said.
“We really do care about being good stewards of the environment,” he said by telephone from Pacific Fleet headquarters in Pearl Harbor.



“We’re working very closely with the Philippine coast guard, with their navy and their government personnel. We’ve been grateful for their support as we all work together to remove Guardian and minimize further damage to the reef,” James said.


It’s expected to take over a month to dismantle the Guardian, which ran aground before dawn on Jan. 17.
Crews have already removed 15,000 gallons of fuel from the ship. They’ve also taken off hundreds of gallons of lubricating oil and paint. They’ll be removing human wastewater and other materials that could harm the environment, James said.The damage is the worst ever in the sanctuary since the park was established in 2001 The Guardian was on its way to Indonesia after making a rest and refueling stop in Subic Bay, a former American naval base west of Manila.

Vice Adm. Scott Swift, the U.S. 7th Fleet Commander based in Yokosuka, Japan, has ordered an investigation into the grounding.

The incident damaged at least 1,000 square meters, or 1,200 square yards, of coral reef, according to an initial, conservative estimate by the Philippine coast guard.

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US House foreign affairs committee chairman Congressman Ed Royce has relayed his regrets to Philippine House of Representatives officials over the US minesweeper USS Guardian's running aground at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17.

Royce, who is leading a US Congressional delegation visiting the Philippines this week, also committed to protect the environment and assured the Philippines of US cooperation, a ranking US Embassy official tweeted Wednesday.

"In Royce('s) meeting with (House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and 11 members), (he) expressed regrets regarding the USS Guardian accident, (and) commitment to protect environment and close cooperation with the Philippine governmnet," US Embassy deputy chief of mission Brian Goldbeck said on his Twitter account.

Goldbeck also said Royce noted his first trip as chairman to Asia, including the Philippines, was "important."

Royce and his delegation are visiting the Philippines from Jan. 28 to 30.

A news release from the Philippine embassy in Washington said the delegation will also meet with President Benigno Aquino III, and with the business community.

This is Royce's first visit to the Philippines.

Royce is a Republican representing the 39th District of California and newly selected chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the 113th US Congress.

The embassy said he has been one of the strongest supporters in the US Congress of closer Philippine-US relations, particularly on security and economic cooperation.

"He is also supportive of President Aquino’s efforts in fighting corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting human rights," the embassy said.

When he met with Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. last Jan. 17, Royce had reiterated his support for the Philippines’ rules-based approach to the West Philippine Sea issue and the peaceful resolution of disputes within the framework of international law.

The US delegation also includes Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-New York), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-New York), Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Florida), Congressman Matthew James “Matt” Salmon (R-Arizona), and Congressman Thomas Anthony “Tom” Marino (R-Pennsylvania).

[vanillaicecream88]

Magpabayad man daw ang Philippines kay mao daw ang naa sa law... Hopefully, ang kwarta kay magamit jud para sa restoration... Pero murag maadto jud ni sa bulsa sa mga corrupt politicians...

Tsk! Sayanga jud sa reefs... It will take thousands of years pa before makaregenerate tong mga corals...

[vern]

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