PCG: 2 floating buoys installed in WPS are ‘undetected’

Two of the 10 navigational buoys that were installed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) could not be detected by the authorities, it was revealed on Saturday, June 3.

*The Philippine Cost Guard installs a navigational buoy near Kota (Loaita) Island in the Kalayaan Island Group, West Philippine Sea on May 11, 2023. (Photo by PCG)

* Rear Adm. Armando Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said the Coast Guard District Palawan has launched efforts to determine the location of the floating markers installed near Balagtas (Irving Reef) and Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef. Accordingly, the Coast Guard District Palawan informed the PCG national headquarters that the location of the two buoys could not be confirmed. The buoys serve as markers of the Philippines’ territorial seas and guide to mariners who pass through the WPS. “’Yung dalawa na inilagay sa Balagtas at Julian Felipe hindi pa natin maconfirm, subject to validation. Siguro masama ang panahon kasi hindi natin mapuntahan (We cannot confirm the status of the two [buoys] that were installed near Balagtas and Julian Felipe, [they’re] subject to validation. Maybe the weather is not good that’s why we cannot go there),” Balilo told reporters. Meanwhile, eight of the remaining buoys were still intact: “’Yung dalawa na lang ang hindi ma-detect (Only the two others are undetected),” Balilo shared, adding that the PCG will send a ship to the said reefs once the weather condition improves to confirm if the markers are still in the area. The development came as reports surfaced claiming that Chinese vessels allegedly removed some of the buoys placed by the PCG in the WPS. Balilo said that this was the first time that they heard of allegations about the removal of the buoys since they started installing them last year. “Kailangan ma-check natin kung anong reason sa report, baka mamaya nandoon naman pala. Dapat ma-validate muna natin kung may nawalang boya (We need to check the reason in the report, maybe it’s still there. We need to validate if there are really missing buoys),” he noted. The PCG installed the first batch of five 30-foot floating markers bearing the image of the Philippine flag near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island (two buoys), and one each in Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Likas (West York) Island, and Parola Island (Northeast Cay) in May 2022. The second batch of five buoys were placed near Patag (Flat) Island, Balagtas (Irving) Reef, Kota (Loaita) Island, Panata Island (Lankiam Cay), and Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef – all in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) – last month. The latest installation prompted China to deploy its vessels and put three of their own buoys near Balagtas Reef, Julian Felipe Reef, and Burgos (Gaven) Reef. Within this year, the PCG hopes to install [six more floating markers](https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/15/pcg-to-install-6-more-floating-markers-in-wps) in other parts of the WPS.