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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Second civilian-led resupply mission in West Philippine Sea in the offing

Second civilian-led resupply mission in West Philippine Sea in the offing

Published Mar 17, 2024 07:29 am
atin ito.jpg
Civilians embark one of the civilian boats that joined the Atin Ito Coalition's resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea on Dec. 10, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Atin Ito Coalition / Facebook)

A second resupply mission led by civilian stakeholders in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is currently in the works to “normalize” the situation where Filipinos can go freely to the Philippines’ territorial waters, and to show resistance against China's aggression.

The Atin Ito Coalition said that the planned resupply mission is likely to happen “this summer”.

“We’re envisioning to have a second mission and we are calling on everybody to normalize ordinary citizens from going into our own seas. It should not be controversial that ordinary Filipinos are going to our own waters,” said Rafaela “Paeng” David, co-convenor of Atin Ito Coalition, in a radio interview over DZBB on Sunday, March 17.

The Atin Ito Coalition launched the first-ever civilian-led resupply mission in WPS on December 10, 2023 to deliver essential supplies and Christmas cheer to fisherfolk and frontline workers in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Lawak (Nanshan) Island, two of the nine features occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands.

The primary ship used in the mission, training ship (TS) Kapitan Felix Oca, failed to reach Ayungin Shoal after getting harassed by Chinese vessels. However, a smaller supply boat, motor launcher (ML) Chowee, managed to reach Lawak Island and deliver the supplies.

“Since our last mission, we have seen that the bullying tactics of China even grew worse that’s why it is all the more important for all Filipinos to unite and show China that we will not be intimidated by their aggression,” stressed David, who is also the president of progressive group Akbayan.

For the upcoming mission, David said the Atin Ito Coalition will again coordinate with the National Task Force for West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to ensure that all precautions will be taken for the safety and security of the participants.

“We want this time to make this second mission 100 percent successful,” she noted.

Details as to how many participants will be allowed to join the trip are yet to be finalized, as well as the number of ships that are going to be used to carry food, clothes, medicine, fishing gears, solar lamps, and other goods intended for the uniformed personnel guarding the Philippine-occupied features and the fisherfolk earning a livelihood in the said areas.

This time, Atin Ito Coalition indicated that Bajo De Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) could be one of the areas they are considering for the upcoming mission. 

They also announced plans to mobilize a delegation of international observers to join their mission. 

“Hopefully they can witness, monitor and put a global spotlight on what really is happening on these waters,” David said.

Atin Ito is a coalition of social movements, Church leaders, fisherfolk, entrepreneurs, artists, and youth advocates. It seeks to amplify the voices of Filipino fisherfolk and frontline workers in the West Philippine Sea.

Atin Ito's lead organizations are Akbayan party, the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), Center for Agrarian Reform for Empowerment and Transformation (CARET), Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK), Akbayan Youth, and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP).

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Atin Ito Coalition Resupply mission PH-China West Philippine Sea
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