CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Rep. Arnan C. Panaligan has called on Malacanang and Congress to build up and strengthen the Philippine Navy to fully protect and secure the nation’s vast maritime zones.
Panaligan pushes Navy upgrade to protect vast PH maritime zones
Published Jun 4, 2025 09:57 pm
REP. Arnan Panaligan (right) was a guest during the 127th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Navy on May 20 where he witnessed the commissioning of BRP Miguel Malvar, the country’s newest and most modern guided missile frigate. (Rep. Arnan Panaligan FB)
In a privilege speech delivered at the resumption of Congress session on Monday, June 2, Panaligan praised the noteworthy improvement in the capabilities of the Philippine Navy since World War II but admitted that there are still much to be done to upgrade them to become a truly modern and credible deterrent naval force.
Rep. Panaligan said there is an urgent need to secure the country’s maritime areas and deny the intrusion of any adverse foreign power.
“Mr. Speaker, I therefore rise on a question of personal and collective privilege to call for urgent and decisive action to build up and strengthen our naval capabilities in order to protect and secure the vast maritime areas of our archipelagic nation,” Panaligan said.
Panaligan said the Exclusive Economic Zone is host to rich marine life and aquatic resources that can easily address the food security of Filipinos.
The lawmaker cited the vast reserves of oil and natural gas in the zone’s seabed and subsoil and renewable energy potentials such as wind and tidal power.
“However, we can explore, exploit, utilize, and enjoy the natural and mineral resources in our waters only if we have the means and capability of establishing control and dominance over our country’s maritime zones,” Panaligan said.
He criticized the aggressive and hostile acts of the Chinese Coast Guard and its maritime militia that endangered the lives of Filipino sailors and scientists on board research vessels that conducted surveys in West Philippine Sea.
The lawmaker slammed Chinese maritime forces that harassed and prevented Filipino fishermen from pursuing fishing activities near Scarborough Shoal, completely ignoring the 2016 arbitral ruling that favored the claims of the Philippines.
“Our inability to establish dominance in our maritime areas because of the inadequacy of our naval capabilities has invited acts of aggression perpetrated by a foreign power against our forces in our own waters notably in the West Philippine Sea,” the reelected congressman said.
The situation in the WPS necessitates the strengthening of the Navy which is imperative for national security, national economic development, and survival, Panaligan said.