Assess environmental impact of Tubbataha incident, PGC told

MANILA, Philippines - Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya on Monday ordered the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to submit an initial assessment report on the environmental implication of the US Navy minesweeper that ran aground on the Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea.

Abaya's directive came as the Philippines makes a high-level government-to-government communication with the United States on the incident.

The order was relayed in an emergency meeting called by the Department of Transportation and Communications Sunday with the DOTC’s maritime cluster led by the PCG and Maritime Industry Authority.

Since the USS Guardian was stuck in the area last Thursday, the PCG has deployed ships in the area to check and contain possible environmental damage on the Tubbataha Reefs.

Abaya ordered the PCG to undertake environmental response operations, including the laying of oil spill boom, if necessary, as it awaits results of coordination efforts on the towing of the stranded US Navy minesweeper.

PCG Spokesperson Armand Balilo said that right after the incident, a crisis management team was activated and a coordinating meeting was conducted at the Palawan Coast Guard District headquarters.

He added that Coast Guard Action Center issued directive for the deployment of marine pollution vessel AE-891 to proceed to the incident area and is  expected to arrive there tonight.