Mga eksperto mula sa UP, nababahala sa nakitang pinsala sa coral reef sa Escoda Shoal; China, posible umanong may plano sa lugar

Transcript

00:00 The scientists from the University of the Philippines are now in charge of the discovery of the coral reef in Eskoda Shoal.

00:08 They also believe that China is planning to invade the area based on their investigation.

00:13 Ron Lagusan is back.

00:15 Ecological disaster.

00:20 This is how the experts from the University of the Philippines described what they saw in Eskoda Shoal

00:25 in their two-day survey.

00:27 Eskoda Shoal is only 71 nautical miles away from Palawan.

00:32 According to the group, they observed a wide-ranging bleaching in the coral reef there.

00:37 To the extent that what we saw, what we documented across all the area that we surveyed,

00:43 almost 100% of the corals were already dead.

00:46 And there were different stages of death.

00:49 The West Philippine Sea now is really in a very alarming and severely degraded state.

00:56 Scientists are also planning to find out the state of the area

01:00 following the rain that is causing the death of corals there.

01:03 Dr. Fernando Seringan of the UP Marine Science Institute explained

01:08 what is the implication of what is called bleaching.

01:10 Bleaching is when the natural color of the coral is damaged

01:18 because of the heat of the water.

01:27 There are many colors, but those colors are not their natural color.

01:32 They are bleaching and in a few days, they can turn white.

01:38 At first glance, the coral can be seen in different colors.

01:42 When it comes to marine biodiversity, when corals are affected,

01:46 it means that the fish population will decrease.

01:49 And because of this, they can become less.

01:51 This is the situation here in Escoda Shoal.

01:54 As you can see, the various ships of China are surrounded

01:57 including this China Coast Guard here in BRP Teresa Magbano

02:01 which was first sent by the Philippine Coast Guard to guard.

02:05 Based on the data obtained by the UP,

02:08 it appears that China is conducting many diving activities in some parts of the area.

02:13 We saw some sampling pits.

02:17 They took samples to look at the materials,

02:20 not of the corals, but of the dead ones.

02:26 The Coast Guard also documented the movement of this research vessel.

02:31 That suggests that they have done acoustic surveys.

02:35 Likely, detailed mapping of the sea floor.

02:39 Finally, based on their assessment, China may have a plan in Escoda Shoal.

02:44 Rod Laguzad for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.