Bolinao to ask owner of MV Chematic to pay for coral damage
THE local government of Bolinao is set to assess the damage caused by the foreign vessel that ran aground off the coastal waters in Barangay Patar last month.
Mayor Alfonso Celeste said Wednesday that the extent of damage can already be assessed since MV Chematic has already left the area and towed to the seawaters of Sual last week.
A team from the University of the Philippine Marine Science Institute from Manila will arrive to undertake underwater inspection, depending on wave condition of the sea in the area where MV Chematic was stranded for almost a month since Dec. 8, to determine extent of damage to corals, if any.
Celeste said the result of the inspection will be the basis for determining the amount of penalty that will be imposed on the ship owner.
The mayor said he already received a letter of guarantee from the management of MV Chematic to the local government as an assurance that its insurance agency will cover the cost of damage once validated.
The costs of food and accommodation spent by the barangay for the composite team of Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Maritime, Philippine National Police and other government agencies that inspected and guarded the vessel during its stay in the place will also be charged to the shipping company.
He added that the barangay is also seeking damages for the income lost from tourism as a result of the lockdown in the area.
MV Chematic had 23 Chinese and three Myanmar nationals on board sailed from Brunei en route to China when it encountered engine trouble. It was reportedly carrying 15,471 tons of petroleum. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)
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