SUMMARY

MANILA, Philippines – As tensions continue to rise between Beijing and Manila, Filipino scientists, lawyers, and researchers are undertaking studies on the resources in the West Philippine Sea and the laws and policies that could be used to hold perpetrators liable for the environmental damage in the area.

The questions they want answered: What’s the extent of the environmental damage in the West Philippine Sea, and how much does the damage cost?

Answers could aid the government’s demand for China, or other parties local and international, to be accountable for the damage.

“We want to hopefully provide a framework or method to assess the damage, considering the value of the resources there,” marine scientist Wilfred Santiañez told Rappler in an interview.

In April 2022, the …

Source:https://www.rappler.com/philippines/scientists-economists-lawyers-want-put-price-damage-west-sea/