Volunteer divers and marine conservationists heaved a sigh of relief after noting minimal damage at Batalang Bato marine sanctuary in Tingloy town, Batangas province, where a cargo ship ran aground the shallow reef last month. But even so, the team urged the owner of the MV Princess Annabelle to survey and find the means to remove the vessel, either by dismantling or dragging it off the reef. Once the ship is removed, a more comprehensive assessment by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is necessary “to determine the full extent of the damage and to estimate the economic value … to restore [and] to compute possible claims against the company,” said environmental conservationist Danny Ocampo.

Cinco, M. (2020, December 1). Marine sanctuary safe after ship grounding. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A8.