The National Security Council (NSC) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have asserted the country’s sovereignty in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and West Philippine Sea (WPS) with the recent conduct of maritime domain awareness activities in those clusters of islands.
The sovereignty mission and activities were led by National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos and PCG officials, including Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Human Resource Management Captain Jay Tarriela, Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Intelligence Captain Nelson Timbang and Commander John Esplana.
PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said that from Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Carlos boarded the PCG’s Cessna Caravan plane to Pag-asa Island, the seat of government of the Municipality of Kalayaan.
On the way to the island, the Coast Guard Aviation Force (CGAF) performed a maritime domain awareness flight in the vicinity waters off Lawak, Patag, Likas and Parola Islands.
The KIG and WPS are subject of dispute by China with its aggressive expansion territorial claims.
Balilo said that during the mission, Palawan Coast Guard commander Commodore Rommel Supangan showed Carlos the navigational buoys that have been installed by the PCG in the KIG.
The buoys have been serving as sovereign markers for the country while ensuring maritime safety by guiding vessels transiting in those waters.
Supangan showed Carlos the established PCG station in Kalayaan and told her that they now manage several command observation posts that expanded the PCG’s maritime domain awareness efforts and assured strategic deployment of Coast Guard vessels in the area.
In Kalayaan, Carlos visited the municipality’s multi-purpose hall and met with the island’s families who received gift packs from the visiting party.
The security adviser led the launching of the PCG project in Kalayaan, whose aim was to increase literacy among the children of Pag-asa Island and raise the environmental consciousness of the coastal community by developing children’s awareness of marine environmental protection.
The project also intended to provide livelihood-training opportunities for parents and strengthen the involvement of fisherfolk in upholding marine environmental protection, maritime security, and maritime search and rescue.
Balilo said Carlos inspected the PCG facilities in Kalayaan, including its weapons, communications, electronics, and information systems (CGWCEIS) facilities.
She also visited the naval base and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) laboratory on the island.