By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Marine scientist Dr. Jonathan Anticamara from the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology conveyed on Saturday (June 8, 2024) that he remains skeptical about China’s plans to build an artificial island at Escoda Shoal, despite the recent discovery of heaps of crushed coral in the area.
PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela disclosed that dead and crushed corals were dumped on the sandbars of Sabina Shoal which altered their size and elevation.
“Right now we’re not sure… [but] we know that there is a growing pile of rubble that’s been observed in recent years,” Anticamara told reporters at the sidelines of the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Anticamara was among the marine scientists who went to Escoda Shoal in the WPS to conduct a marine scientific survey.
He said natural processes could have formed the piles of crushed coral near the shoal.
“But since we didn’t see China dumping it… We’re not 100% sure if dumping or reclamation is going on,” Anticamara admitted.
“Posibleng natural,” he added.
The UP marine scientist pointed out that the extent of damaged or dead corals could have piled up due to typhoons that hit the area.
Last month, the PCG raised suspicion that China could be building an artificial island in Escoda Shoal.
Sabina Shoal serves as the rendezvous point for vessels carrying out resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre, a Second World War-era vessel deliberately grounded at Ayungin Shoal in 1999 during the administration of then President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Monday (3 June 2024) called the alleged reclamation a “rumor.”
However, even if still uncertain whether the piles of dead corals were dumped or natural, Anticamara said: “We need to pay attention.”
“We need to take some concrete action so that we can recover and restore degraded coral reefs in the Philippines,” the UP marine scientist stressed.
(el Amigo/mnm)