Gov’t to focus on development of islands in West PH Sea

The West Philippine Sea is part of the archipelagic sea lanes that the bill proposes to establish.

MANILA, Philippines — The government will focus on developing all of the islands and features in the West Philippine Sea, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

“We will also focus on developing the islands and the other features that we are occupying,” Brawner said in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The Philippines occupies nine other maritime features — collectively known as Kalayaan Island Group — in the West Philippine Sea.

These areas are: Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Pagasa (Thitu) Island, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, Patag (Flat) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Likas (West York) Island, and Panata (Lankiam Cay) Island.

Brawner noted that military personnel are stationed in these maritime features, hence the need for further improvement.

“We are actually trying to do is that, we are making these features more habitable for our troops,” Brawner said.

Brawner added that the AFP is planning to send out vital equipment such as desalination machines and other means of communication.