Defense chief: Military to build facilities on Pag-asa Island in 2018

• Source: http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/01/09/defense-chief-on-pagasa-island.html
• Friday, January 12, 2018

(David Santos (Contributor, CNN Philippines Correspondent, CNN Philippines Staff)

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The military will pursue the rehabilitation of facilities on Pag-asa Island by the first quarter of 2018, according to the Defense chief.

"First in Pag-asa, we are going to improve the runway, plus the beaching ramp-we're going to build facilities for our fishermen in Pag-asa," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said during the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) annual New Year's Call on Tuesday.

Pag-asa Island (Thitu) is one of the features in the Spratly group of Islands, a subject of the maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

China, who claims ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, complained about shelters for Filipino fishermen being built in Pag-asa Island in November. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Filipinos to stop building and pull out of the island after.

However, Lorenzana thinks China might not complain this time.

"I don't think they would protest," Lorenzana said. "Our purpose there is peaceful. It's for our fishermen."

The Defense chief added that the possibility of China going against the planned structures is gone.

"Kasi nag uusap maman tayo sa kanila [We talk to them], eh we have a good dialogue, communcation channel through the Deparment of Foreign Affairs," he added.

Pag-asa Island, about 480 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, is within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. It is the seat of the Kalayaan municipal government under the province of Palawan.

In September, Lorenzana said plans for the rehabilitation of Pag-asa Island are underway, including the construction of a beaching ramp and a cemented, all-weather runway.

In August, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano said his military sources have spotted Chinese vessels stationed near the Pag-asa. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano said the presence of ships alone does not mean anything.