Vessel caught transporting mineral ore from Zambales to China, ordered to stop operations
January 20, 2023 · By Martin Sadongdong for mb.com.ph
A sea vessel that was supposed to transport mineral ore from Sta. Cruz, Zambales to China has been ordered to stop its operations due to alleged violations of environmental laws.
Photo: Philippine Coast Guard / PCG
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday, Jan. 16, that its Task Force Aduana assisted in the implementation of a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against the shipment of mineral ores consigned to a certain Yinglong Steel Corporation (YSC) onboard MV Van Knight.
Citing record from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the PCG said that MV Van Knight “will transport an undetermined amount of mineral ore from the Philippines to China.”
According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-MGB), YSC’s mineral ore export permit had been suspended as of Jan. 12 for alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 1586 (Establishing an Environmental Management System, including other Environmental Management Related Measures and for other Purposes) pursuant to an order issued by the Office of the President dated Dec. 23, 2022.
PD No. 1586 was created in 1978 to establish an environmental impact statement system “to attain and maintain a rational and orderly balance between socio-economic growth and environmental protection.”
“The PCG is currently securing and preventing the said vessel from departing the vicinity waters off Sta. Cruz, Zambales,” the PCG said.
