With increasing Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), legislators on Monday stressed the need to develop major and permanent infrastructure projects in the Kalayaan Island Group and in Pag-asa Island to assert the Philippines’ presence in the disputed territory
Reps. Geraldine Roman of Bataan, Jefferson Khonghun of Bataan, Francisco Paolo Ortega V of La Union, and Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez said they fully support Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez’s efforts to develop more permanent structures in the Philippine-occupied island groups that can help the country’s patrols in WPS territory and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“This highlights the need for our country to invest in our defense infrastructure as well as the installations located in the islands that we already occupied,” Roman said.
“You know, we don’t like to be bullied. And we will show that we have a stand for our country. And I believe that the President is a taking the right actions in this regard,” Roman added.
Roman said that she supports President Marcos’ position on not surrendering an inch of Philippine territory to China and vows as a lawmaker to push for the President’s policies on WPS.
Khonghun said that aside from continuously filing diplomatic protests against China, he said developing more permanent facilities in Kalayaan and Pag-asa Island will help assert Philippine sovereignty in the WPS.
“We are one with Speaker Romualdez in also developing, especially our airport facilities in Kalayaan. So it is very important that we can really say that our presence is there. And we should really not give up our territory,” the lawmaker said.
“And we do not allow China’s continued interference in our territory. So, we know that our President will not let that happen and that our President is constantly working to prevent it from happening again.”
Ortega said that aside from airports and seaports, the Philippin government should also develop tourism and business destinations in Pag-asa and Kalayaan islands.
“Not only airports and seaports but even the Speaker encourages tourism activities, tourism sites, business activities or business infrastructures to be placed there at our borders and then in those areas.”
“The President has made a clear stand with that issue, ginagawa po natin lahat ng naaayon sa batas at naaayon po sa ating karapatan and of course, very clear po sa presidente na hindi po natin ibibigay itong mga ganitong lugar,” Ortega said.
(The president has made a clear stand with that issue, we are doing everything according to the law and according to our rights and of course, it is very clear to the president that we will not give these places)
For Suarez, bilateral agreements with other countries are very important in supporting the Philippines’ cause in the WPS.
“Kaya napakahalaga po ‘yung partnership bilateral agreements and cooperation that President Bongbong Marcos has been doing and strengthening with his trips because this strengthens the position of the President when it comes to our exclusive economic zone,” he said.
(So the partnership bilateral agreements and cooperation that President Bongbong Marcos has been doing and strengthening with his trips is very important because this strengthens the position of the President when it comes to our exclusive economic zone)
He also thanked Speaker Romualdez for his commitment to safeguard the integrity of the Philippine territory.
“We thank Speaker Martin Romualdez for being steadfast with his commitment that not even an inch will be sacrificed when it comes to fighting for our sovereignty and our territory,” Suarez said.
“I would like to reiterate the position of Congresswoman Geraldine Roman, it is necessary for us to double down on our defense, spending, funding and allocation just so that we can properly protect what is naturally ours,” he added.