Compensation sought for damaged Mindoro coral reef

MANILA, Philippines – The municipal government of Pola in Oriental Mindoro is asking for P4.5 million in compensation from a shipping company after its vessel damaged 1,134 square meters of corals.

Commodore Rolando Legaspi, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard in the Southern Tagalog District (PCG-STD), yesterday said M/T John Nico damaged the coral reefs when it ran aground off Sitio Dayap at the height of Typhoon Nona.  

A representative of M/T John Nico went to the PCG station in Oriental Mindoro on Thursday and arranged a meeting with Pola Mayor Leandro Panganiban Jr. 

“On Monday, the ship captain and a company representative will be in Pola to make a courtesy call on the mayor...They want to settle the violation,” said Legaspi. 

The PCG-STD earlier alerted its personnel to be on the lookout for M/T John Nico that allegedly fled after damaging the coral reefs. 

M/T John Nico left Subic on Dec. 13 for Masbate. It took shelter in Pola Bay on Dec. 15 because of the strong winds and big waves spawned by Nona.  A tugboat extracted the vessel on Dec. 20.