ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Facebook)

The government needs faster vessels for its resupply missions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said. 

Tulfo highlighted this gap during the hearing Tuesday, Nov. 7 of the House Special Committee on West Philippine Sea (WPS) chaired by Mandaluyong City lone district Rep. Neptali Gonzales II. 

Tackled during the panel hearing, among other things was the Oct. 22 incident wherein two Chinese Coast Guard ships conducted a “dangerous maneuver” and collided with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-contracted supply boat Unaiza May 2.   

“Gaano po kabilis ang sasakyan natin? (How fast was our vessel going?) How fast is it? Talagang aabutan kayo kung ang takbo niyo lang ay five knots tapos sila ay nasa 20 knots talagang maabutan kayo,” Tulfo asked the resource persons in the hearing. 

(If we're only moving at five knots and they're moving at 20 knots, then they will definitely catch up with us.) 

“The Chinese Coast Guard is toying with you. In short, pinaglalaruan po tayo, pino-propvoke po tayo. And we have been very patient in the past months or a year or two,” Tulfo told the attending officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). 

One of them, PCG Commodore Jay Tristan Tarriela, admitted that their 44-meter vessels can run as fast as 22 to 25 knots. 

“However, since our primary mission is to provide escort to the chartered boat we have to adjust our slow speed so that we can able to phase our chartered boat,” he answered. 

"Wala po ba tayong makuha na sasakyan na matulin-tulin naman? Kasi kung seven knots ang swimmer natin ay baka seven knots ang bilis, eh talaga hong maabutan yan. Kawawa nga din naman ang coast guard, magiging siya ang panangga,” Tulfo said. 

"Can't we procure a faster vessel? Because if a swimmer's top speed is seven knots, then they will catch up with it. I pity the coast guard, for they will act as the shield.) 

The resource persons responded by saying that Tulfo’s suggestion was part of the option that the government was considering. They added that they were looking for vessels for the resupply mission that can go at least 15 knots.