Town wants shipping firm to pay P16.5M
THE Municipal Government of Liloan is demanding a P16.5-million payment from the cargo ship owner whose ship docked in its fish sanctuary and caused damage.
Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco is asking why the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) allowed the ship to leave Liloan without getting a clearance from the town.
The adjudication board will convene today in Liloan to hear the ship owner’s counter-proposal.
Liloan already sent a demand letter to Asian Shipping Corp., owner of the ship, demanding payment for the 250-sq.m. damage on the sanctuary corals, while a joint technical survey is being done to determine the extent of damage.
Not leaving
Commander Agapito Bibat, PCG Cebu Station chief, said yesterday that the ship did not leave Cebu. He said it is now on standby at its port near F.F. Cruz port at the Mandaue City reclamation area.
“Hindi po sila pwedeng uma- lis. Ang advice po namin sa shipping, ayusin na lang po nila yung obligation nila sa LGU para maisyuhan po namin sila ng clearance (They can’t leave. Our advice to them is to settle their obligations with the LGU to we can give them clearance),” Bibat told SunStar Cebu.
He said they issued a violation notice to cargo ship LCT Nicia, saying that the officers of the ships before taking shelter during a bad weather, should first inform the PCG.
He also clarified that they are not involved in the adjudication board being convened in Liloan.
Cargo ship LCT Nicia, manned by Capt. Berlin Edep, decided to anchor in the Liloan coast in Barangay Poblacion at 9 p.m. last Aug. 15 to seek shelter from the bad weather, when Bantay Dagat operatives patrolling the area discovered it.
Obligations
Bibat earlier said that even though the vessel is seaworthy, based on their initial inspection, it can’t be allowed to leave municipal waters until its owner settle its obligations with the LGU.
LCT Nicia came from Ormoc City, Leyte, and was heading for Naga City when its crew decided to temporarily dock in Takot Marine Sanctuary in Liloan.
Earlier, the ship captain explained that he had no idea that he was anchoring in a marine sanctuary and he decided to seek refuge there.