Surigao Del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel on Monday, March 29 warned that the swarm of moored Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef could further contribute to the reef degradation in the West Philippine Sea.

Pimentel said there is “considerable risk” of this happening as any of the Chinese vessel staying in reef could accidentally run aground in the shallow waters and submerged ridges of the WPS.

“We would urge the National Task Force for the WPS to seriously consider this risk, at the rate Chinese vessels are swarming around Julian Felipe Reef,” Pimentel said in a statement.

The chair of the House Committee on Strategic Intelligence said the Task Force should also prepare a contingency plan in the event of such “an unpleasant incident.”

“It is not really good for ships to moor there for extended periods because anchors can cause extensive damage to coral reefs and reef-associated habitat such as seagrass beds,” he said.

“In fact, the hazard of reef damage gets worse during bad weather owing to the risk of anchor dragging and grounding,” he pointed out.

“We must stress that under international law, we are duty-bound to conserve and manage the natural resources within our 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while enjoying sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting such resources,” added the lawmaker.

Pimentel recalled that the United States had to pay the Philippines a $1.7-million fine when a US warship accidentally ran aground at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, some 130 kilometers southeast of Palawan, in 2013.

The amount paid to the Philippines was to compensate the reef damage caused by the USS Guardian, which had strayed into Tubbataha after a port call and fuel stop at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.

The US Navy contractors were able to eventually remove the vessel after a lengthy and costly salvage effort.

In the Senate, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 369, urging the Duterte administration to “exert legal and diplomatic pressure” on China to stop it from its continued activities in the WPS which is harming the country’s coral reef ecosystems.

Hontiveros said China’s debts to the country now stands at more than P800-billion amid its aggressive moves in the WPS.