US Government Paid P87 Million to the Philippines for Tubbataha Reef Damage

The Federal government of the United States has paid P87 million to the Philippine national government as compensation for the damage caused to the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan by a US Navy Ship. The DFA announced through a statement on Wednesday that the payment was made on January 20, 2015.

Tubbataha Reef

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine government received from the US government the full requested amount of P87,033,570.71, as compensation for the damage caused on Tubbataha Reef by the grounding of the USS Guardian.

The DFA noted that the compensation will be utilize for the protection and rehabilitation of Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some parts of the fund will also be used to further enhance the capability to monitor the areas and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The United States government will also help the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to upgrade their facilities in the Tubbataha Reef area according to the DFA.

The DFA added further that aside from the compensation received by the Philippine government, as the US government will also provide additional assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard to upgrade the PCG Substation in Tubbataha Reef.

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