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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Teodoro says Pag-asa Island badly needs these 2 infra projects

Teodoro says Pag-asa Island badly needs these 2 infra projects

Published Sep 8, 2023 07:31 am

At A Glance

  • Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. has sought the House of Representatives' support for the funding of two key infrastructure development projects on Pag-asa Island. 

FB_IMG_1694059554440.jpgDND Secretary Gibo Teodoro (Facebook)

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. has sought the House of Representatives' support for the funding of two key infrastructure development projects on Pag-asa Island.

This, after House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan said during the DND's 2024 budget hearing that he found the Philippines' own development on the island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as lacking.

"Kailangan may comprehensive strategy tayo para maipakita natin na determinado tayo na atin yan...tayo ang may pinakamababa ang intervention doon (We need a comprehensive strategy in order to show determination in our claim on the island...we have the fewest intervention there)," Libanan said on Thursday, Sept. 7.

Teodoro, who led the DND officials in the budget hearing, said the Philippines needs to invest in a port as well as improving the runway of the existing airport on Pag-asa.

"Palagay ko po ang unang-unang kinakailangan dyan ay puerto na makakatanggap ng large draft na vessels para makabagsak po tayo ng construction materials inbound para sa ganun po," Teodoro said.

(I think the first thing that we need there is a port that can accept large draft vessels so that we can drop off construction materials inbound.)

Teodoro continued: "Pangalawa po ay improvement ng runway natin upang sa ganun mas malalaki at mas mabibigat kargada ang pwede niya ipasok. Kasi sa ngayon po ay seasonal ang pwede nating pasukan."

(Second is the improvement of our runway so that we can bring in bigger and heavier cargo. Because right now, our access to the runway is seasonal.)

"So iprepara po natin muna ang isla muna mabuti saka po magiging madali napo maglagay ng serbisyo (So we'll just prepare the island properly first so that it'll be earlier to establish services there.

Libanan said earlier in the hearing that the people on Pag-asa should have access to hospitals and schools.

Pag-asa is the second largest of the naturally occurring Spratly Islands and the largest of the Philippine-administered islands. It lies about 500 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

Related Tags

Gibo teodoro marcelino libanan PAG-ASA ISLAND Department of National Defense
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