PCG: No corals damaged by foreign dredging ship M/V Emerald in Batangas

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said no corals appeared to be damaged by the foreign dredging vessel that suddenly appeared near the shores of Lobo, Batangas.

"Nakita nga namin doon na, based doon sa video na nakuha, ay purely buhangin lang siya and walang corals din na sinasabing na-damage," PCG Batangas Station Commander Geoffrey Espaldon said on Chino Gaston's report for 24 Oras.

Espaldon was referring to underwater footage said to be taken by divers who inspected the area where the M/V Emerald was found.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday said it suspended the planned dredging of the ship as it was lacking proper documents.

Residents as well as experts have expressed worry that the massive dredging vessel may have caused destruction to coral reefs and other marine resources.

"Ang tolerance level ng mga organisms kasi, nagva-vary ano 'yung sediment composition. Bala 'pag nag-dredge ka, ang susunod na babalik diyan, harmful organisms," said Vincent Hilomen, project manager of the DENR's Biodiversity Management Bureau.

"They can  produce toxic substances for example, ang mga spores ng ibang algae ng nagca-cause ng red tide, sila ang mafa-favor," he added.

"The main drivers of sediment transport sa shore so puwede kang magkaroon ng erosion sa beach, puwede ring magkaroon ng acquisition, depende kung saan ka nagde-dredge," Cesar Villano from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute said. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News