Mindoro protected area at risk of damage after vessel grounding

CALAPAN CITY— The grounding of passenger vessel M/V Roromaster 5 has raised concerns over its impact on a marine protected area (MPA) in the town of Abra de Ilog, including a core conservation zone, local disaster officials said Thursday evening

The roll-on, roll-off vessel struck the seabed and was beached near Sitio Sigman, Barangay Udalo, after midnight, with all 117 passengers and crew members able to disembark and continue to their respective destinations, according to the municipal disaster office. 

According to the Abra de Ilog Emergency Response Operations (AERO), the vessel was grounded at the Munting Buhangin Marine Protected Area, which is filled with sensitive marine habitats, including sea turtle nesting grounds, a turtle hatchery, and coral reefs. 

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Passengers rescued after vessel runs aground in Occidental Mindoro

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

AERO said a large vessel beaching on the shallow reef could disturb or damage marine habitats and disrupt the natural movement and habitat of marine species.

However, no final assessment of the extent of any environmental damage has been made. 

The municipal disaster risk reduction and management office, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are coordinating an environmental assessment of the site.

A composite technical diving team from the MENRO, civil society organizations, and the PCG was scheduled to deploy on Friday to conduct an underwater assessment and document the area’s conditions./coa