The Cebu provincial government and other entities, which suffered damage following the cargo vessel MV Belle Rose running aground in the waters off Daanbantayan town last week, have agreed to settle and allow the ship to leave Cebu for repairs.
The agreement reached with the shipping company covers the cost of replanting affected corals, rehabilitation, protection and management of the shoal, incidental damages sustained by those reliant on Monad Shoal such as tourism-based establishments and fishermen, administrative fines and expenses incurred by the government in responding to the problem.
MV Belle Rose was carrying 48,000Mt of clinker when it hit a shallow portion in the 300ha shoal last week. The accident caused damage to at least 3ha of corals in the protected area, which will cost about US$30,000 to rehabilitate.
