US pays Philippines 1.97 million dollars over damaged reef
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Manila (dpa) - The United States has paid the Philippines 1.97 million US dollars for damages caused by the grounding of a US Navy ship on Tubbataha Reefs in 2013, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
The government received the payment on January 20 this year, the DFA said. The USS Guardian grounded on January 17, 2013, damaging more than 2,000 square metres of protected reefs.
The Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea are a protected area and they are among the world's most important marine sanctuaries.
"The compensation will be utilised for the protection and rehabilitation of Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site," the DFA said in a statement.
"Portions of the fund will also be used to further enhance capability to monitor the area and prevent similar incidents in the future."
The US government will also provide assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard to upgrade its sub-station in Tubbataha, the DFA added.
