MANILA - Key members of the Philippine House of Representatives have called for significant infrastructure developments within the Kalayaan Island Group, particularly on Pag-asa Island, to bolster the country's territorial claims amidst increasing Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
According to Philippines News Agency, Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Representative David Suarez, along with Representatives Geraldine Roman (Bataan, 1st District), Jeffrey Khonghun (Zambales, 1st District), and Francisco Paolo Ortega (La Union, 1st District), expressed unanimous support for Speaker Martin Romualdez's initiative to erect more permanent structures on the Philippine-occupied islands. These developments are deemed crucial for enhancing patrols within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The legislators echoed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s firm stance against foreign encroachments, asserting that the Philippines will not cede "even one square inch of our sovereign territory." They committed to prioritizing defense expenditures to ensure the nation's territorial integrity is maintained.
Roman emphasized the importance of demonstrating the country's resolve against intimidation, praising President Marcos's proactive measures in safeguarding Philippine sovereignty. Khonghun highlighted the dual strategy of lodging diplomatic protests against China while also pushing for the construction of enduring facilities in the Spratlys as essential to asserting the Philippines' claims in the WPS.
Ortega suggested the expansion of infrastructure should not only focus on military and security aspects but also include the development of airports, seaports, tourism, and business ventures in the contested islands. Suarez pointed out the significance of international partnerships and bilateral agreements in strengthening the Philippines' position and support for its cause in the WPS.
The call for infrastructure development in Pag-asa Island reflects a broader strategy of enhancing physical presence and economic activity in the area as part of the Philippines' multifaceted approach to territorial defense and sovereignty assertion in the West Philippine Sea.