Senator Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla on Tuesday, August 15, pressed the government to assert Philippine rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with concrete actions - and tourism and fishing projects are a good start.
Sen. Robin Padilla (Senate PRIB Photo)
Padilla stressed this as he called for projects that would improve the conditions of fishermen, civilians and soldiers staying at Pag-asa Island, following his visit there last Friday.
"Ang atin pong punto: Napakalaki ng pag-asa sa Pag-asa (My point is that there is great hope in Pag-asa). Alam naman po natin ito: 'Lahat ng lugar, kung iiwang nakatiwangwang at walang nakatira, titirahan po yan at titirahan ng mga iskwater (We also know that squatters will stay in areas that are undeveloped). Sa kaso po natin, ang mga banyagang iskwater, hindi natin kayang sipain ng pwersahan.' Ang pinakamainam po sa lahat ay punuin natin ito ng mga Pilipinong maninirahan sa islang tinatawag nating atin. (In our case, we cannot remove foreign squatters unless we entice Filipinos to live in the area we say is ours)," Padilla said in his privilege speech in today’s plenary session.
"Kung atin pong tutugunan at bibigyang aksyon ang hinaing ng ating mga kababayang nahaharap sa araw-araw na hamon ng sikmura, seguridad, at kabuhayan -- darating po ang panahon na hindi na natin kakailanganing sumigaw na 'Atin ang Pag-asa' dahil may buhay na buhay na patunay na sa atin ito (If we act on the complaints of our people regarding food, security and livelihood, the day will come when we need not shout 'Pagasa is ours' because we would have fulfilled their hopes)," he said.
Padilla, who stayed a week in Pagasa in 2021 and revisited it last Aug. 11 to see for himself the situation there: "higit sa salita, dapat ay may gawa (More than words, there must be action).”
Padilla called for better business and livelihood opportunities for fishing in the area. "Panahon na po para maging pugad ng mga mangingisda ang Kalayaan. Maisasagawa po natin ito kung may fuel dump o gasolinahan sa mismong isla. Dapat ay may sustainable na pagkukunan ng enerhiya ang mga motor boats at power supply para sa mga residente ng Pag-Asa (It is time for Kalayaan to become a hub for fishers. We can do this if we have a fuel dump or station in the island, so their motor boats will have a sustainable source of energy)," he said.
He also called for the speedy repair of infrastructure damaged by recent natural disasters - including the Kalayaan Municipal Hall.
Also, Padilla sought better support for the Pag-asa Island Integrated Elementary and High School for youths in Kalayaan; funds to improve facilities for power; rubber boats with outboard motors; and communications and other mission-essential equipment for the Kalayaan Island Group detachment.
Padilla likewise pushed for a housing program using disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Padilla called for efforts to revive and fund programs for tourism to highlight the beauty of Pag-asa, whose sights he said are comparable to the Maldives.
"World class po ito kung atin lamang bubuhayin at bubuhusan ng puhunan para sa turismo (It can become a world-class tourism hub if we invest there for tourism)," he said.
Padilla visited Pag-asa Island last Friday, days after an incident between two Philippine supply boats and those of the China Coast Guard - where the Chinese vessels used water cannons to attack Philippine resupply vessels bringing food, water and provisions to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.
With him was his wife Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla.
Upon arriving, they gave help and comfort to the Filipinos living there - in time with the celebration of Mrs. Padilla. "Kaya naman napili niyang makapiling ang mga taga Pag-asa (She wanted to spend her birthday with Pag-asa residents)," he said, adding they did not receive any radio challenge from Chinese forces while en route there.
Pag-asa Island is part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea, located about 200 nautical miles from Palawan. It is home to 400 Filipinos.
"Napakaliit na lupa na may napakanipis na populasyon — pero wala pong makatatanggi at walang pag-aalinlangang kong sasabihin na ang Pag-asa ang pinakamahalaga at pinakamakapangyarihang yunit na saklaw ng Pilipinas sa usaping geopolitikal (Pag-asa Island occupies a small area and has a small population. Yet no one can deny Pag-asa's importance in the geopolitical arena)," said Padilla.
He noted even former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. realized the importance of Pag-asa Island when he issued Presidential Decree No. 1596 on June 11, 1978, formally recognizing Kalayaan and mandating its progress as part of the Philippines.
Yet, Padilla lamented our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has repeatedly been intruded upon, thus rendering “Pag-asa” only in name because it cannot be achieved by many Filipinos there.
"Sa gitna ng usapin dito sa Kongreso, ang nais po nating marinig ay ang umaalingawngaw na pahayag na hindi nag-iisa at kinakalimutan ang natatanging pamayanang Pilipino na naninirahan sa gitna ng napakalawak na West Philippine Sea (Amid our discussions in Congress, I want to hear an assurance that our Filipinos living in the West Philippine Sea are neither alone nor forgotten)," he said.