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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider PH to build more cellular sites on Pagasa Island after officials receive 'welcome' text messages from China, Vietnam

PH to build more cellular sites on Pagasa Island after officials receive 'welcome' text messages from China, Vietnam

Published Jun 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong After receiving several "welcome" text messages from China and Vietnam while on a visit to Pagasa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), top defense and military officials said the government is planning to build more structures, including cellular sites on the island to improve the living condition of the community and troops stationed there. Pagasa Island (DND / MANILA BULLETIN) Pagasa Island
(DND / MANILA BULLETIN) The officials, led by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, were deluged with roaming cellular messages from the neighboring countries when they visited the island on Tuesday to grace the inauguration of a newly completed beaching ramp. "Welcome to VIETNAM!" was part of the roaming message received by Lorenzana, which he showed to the media, upon setting foot on Pagasa Island. Other reporters who accompanied the defense and military officials received roaming messages such as "Welcome to CHINA!" Asked if the government has plans to build more structures on Pagasa Island, such as cellular sites, Lorenzana responded: "We will." Lorenzana said SMART Communications Inc. has a cellular site on Pagasa Island catering to a small community and troops stationed there but it is temporarily unavailable. In a report by GMA News online, SMART spokesman Ramon Isberto said the cellular site on Pagasa Island has been down for several months and it was difficult for them to send a repair team because of the location of the area. Aside from cellular sites, Lorenzana said the government is also planning to build additional barracks for the soldiers manning the island, residential buildings for the community, schools, electric posts, and towers. The Department of National Defense has also allocated P1.318 billion for the repair of a runway on Pagasa Island which had been damaged by erosion in the past years, and the concreting of a runway and parking apron for the Philippine Air Force, among others. At present, the government has established a municipal hall, multi-purpose hall, health center, school, several residential buildings, marina, airstrip, control tower, and a military barracks on Pagasa Island. Pagasa, known internationally as Thitu Island, is the largest among the nine features being occupied by the Philippines in the WPS. It has a total land area of 37.2 hectares and is part of an archipelago called Kalayaan (Spratly) Island Group (KIG). It is located around 480 km west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The other features include Likas Island which is known internationally as (West York); Parola Cay (Northeast); Lawak Island (Nanshan); Kota Island (Loaita); Patag Island (Flat); Panata Cay (Lankiam); Rizal Reef (Commodore); and Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas). The WPS is an area in the South China Sea that is within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. Aside from the Philippines, other countries which have overlapping claims in the heavily-disputed South China Sea include China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Hague, The Netherlands ruled in favor of the Philippines in its claims in the WPS against China.
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