Pangilinan vows more military, fisherfolk support in Pag-asa

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan pledged additional military and fisherfolk support during his visit to Pag-asa Island on Thursday.

Pangilinan was escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as they flew across the skylines of the occupied features in the West Philippine Sea.?During the maritime domain awareness flight, Pangilinan saw the artificial islands made by China within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

He also witnessed a Chinese flare when the aircraft went near Panganiban (Mischief) Reef.

Pangilinan stressed the need to modernize the country’s armed forces and coast guard by providing more ships and equipment to protect the waters claimed by China.

“We don’t want conflict. We don’t want escalation of tensions, but we need to tighten our capacity to patrol our waters,” he said.

PCG spokesman on WPS issues, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, urged Pangilinan to support the extension of the Kadiwa program in the area so the government can purchase fish directly from Filipino fisherfolk.

“We cannot encourage our fishermen here in Palawan to fish and assert our sovereign rights if they don’t have a market to sell their fish,” Tarriela explained.

The senator also visited a new salt-making project on Pag-asa Island and distributed poultry and vegetable farming starter implements.

During the flight, the delegation observed about 30 Chinese militia ships stationed around the island.