Noy wants minimal damage, spillage on Tubbataha

MANILA, Philippines – As authorities are preparing to salvage the grounded vessel USS Guardian on Tubbataha Reef, President Benigno Aquino III ordered government agencies  to  limit and mitigate the damage done, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) said on Monday.

Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said in a press briefing that Aquino instructed investigators and divers to be “proactive” in ensuring that no further harm would be done on the treasured coral ridge.

“Our immediate concern, which is under the mandate of DOTC, is maritime environmental protection. The Armed Forces are directly in touch with their US Navy counterparts,” he said.

The transportation and communications chief, however, assured the public that the vessel “is quite stable” as its front and rear parts are intact  and are less likely to be moved or shaken.

Abaya added that the Philippine West Naval Forces and Western Command already placed Coast Guard divers to monitor and secure the ship as well as to carry out search and rescue operations if needed.

"They were immediately on the scene at least to monitor the situation of the ship -- if there were people on the surface, they could easily be on hand to rescue if there were men overboard," he said.

Naval vessels from the Philippine Coast Guard, a guided missile destroyer and two civilian tugboats commissioned by the United States government as well as a naval reserve ship traditionally used to salvage other ships are now surrounding the area, Abaya said.

"We should have close coordination with the Americans ... that we should not just allow them to conduct their salvage operations on their own. The plan should be vetted, the plan should be concurred in, and likewise to keep (Aquino) and the public informed," the DOTC chief said.

US Navy Admiral Thomas Carney, commander of Task Force 73 based in Singapore, arrived in Puerto Princesa Sunday evening.

Carney will be in charge of the US Navy vessels for the salvage operations  but the government “will be [informed] of every plan and detail that will be conducted and implemented,” Abaya added.