The c (AFP) said it needs P9 billion to develop and secure the areas in the West Philippine Sea that the country occupies.
“There are a lot of estimates… but it is at P9 billion for the development of our islands,” said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., after visiting Pag-asa Island with Speaker Martin Romualdez and other lawmakers. “I hope it will be included [in the national budget].”
“The name of the game in the West Philippine Sea is effective presence. It means whoever is present in the area has control,” he said.
“We still have a lot of things to do, a lot of improvements to make, not just in Pag-asa Island but in the other eight features,” Brawner said.
For instance, Brawner said Pag-asa Island served as rock-solid proof of the country’s sovereignty since Filipinos occupied it under the jurisdiction and governance of the Kalayaan municipality in Palawan.
“Pag-asa island is the symbol of our sovereignty and sovereign rights.
It is the farthest island from our baseline. It is outside our exclusive economic zone but it is a territory occupied by Filipinos.
There are 130 soldiers and police officers deployed in Pag-asa Island,” Brawner said.
“That is why we are requesting more funding. We have to develop our islands and make them habitable for the soldiers and the community. We need to improve our facilities in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Before the House of Representatives approved the proposed P5.768 trillion budget for 2024 last week, its leaders issued a statement saying they would realign confidential and intelligence funds to those agencies that needed them most, especially those on the frontline of securing the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, which China violates with impunity.
Romualdez has committed to allocate P3 billion initially for development projects on Pag-asa, the main island in and the seat of the town of Kalayaan in Palawan.
Romualdez made the commitment following a visit to the remote town in the West Philippine Sea accompanied by some congressmen and officers of the AFP. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
“Initially, just for the airport and the reclamation here, we’re looking at a budget of at least P3 billion for the airport reclamation extension, which coincides with the naval port and fishing sanctuary (for fishermen),” Romualdez said.
Romualdez said the funding would come from billions in confidential funds the House intends to realign.
He told the residents of Pag-asa and the Kalayaan island group that help and support are on the way.
“We’re here to look at where we could make more improvements. There is a possibility of putting up a naval wharf right here and repairing this port here as well…” he said during his visit to Pag-asa Island on Thursday, his first trip to the remote outpost.
He noted the paramount importance of the Kalayaan Group of Islands, of which Pag-asa Island is an integral part, within the Philippine territory.
Brawner expressed his gratitude to the Romualdez-led House for recognizing the need to strengthen the nation’s defense resources. Brawner, who said it was his third visit, noted improvements that have been done on the island.
“The last time I was there, the… surface of the runway was still dirt. But this time when we landed, we landed on concrete. And I also saw that there was electricity already in the area. The last time I was there, there was no electricity,” Brawner said.