Asserting Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea must go beyond sea patrols and diplomatic protests, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said. This comes after her assessment trip to Pag-asa Island, where she noted shortages in infrastructure. She advocates for a sustainable civilian presence in the Kalayaan Island Group.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros emphasized that Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea requires a sustainable and well-funded civilian presence in the Kalayaan Island Group, extending beyond military patrols and diplomatic protests. She made this statement following her assessment trip to Pag-asa Island yesterday.
During the visit, she observed severe shortages of essential infrastructure, including adequate health care facilities and cold storage for local fisherfolk. “Our sovereignty is lived and defended daily by the people stationed here,” she said. “Government must show up not only in words, but in action – by ensuring that our communities and frontliners have the resources, services and institutional backing they rightfully deserve,” she added.
She specifically highlighted the urgent need for solar-powered cold storage to support the fishing industry operating in contested waters. Hontiveros plans to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and the private sector on this initiative. “This is our patriotic duty,” she stated.
As chairperson of the Senate committee on health, she committed to lobbying the Department of Health for the deployment of sufficient medical equipment. She also pledged to involve the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and Employment to channel funds for sustainable livelihoods in the island municipality.
After meeting with Kalayaan Mayor Beltzasar Alindogan and Vice Mayor Maurice Albayda, Hontiveros reiterated that the civilian population serves as the country's strongest anchor in the disputed region. “My visit is a show of support and solidarity for our fellow Filipinos here in Kalayaan. They are part of the Philippines and they should not be left alone,” she said.
Her trip follows recent debates centering on the island, after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta suggested relinquishing the territory, claiming it lies beyond the country's exclusive economic zone.