Astig

Nakakatuwa na may mga kongresistang tulad nina Walden Bello at Atty. Kaka Bag-ao na tumatayo at ipinaglalaban ang ating kasarinlan.

Isang halimbawa nito ay pagbisita ng dalawa kasama ang ilang opisyal ng pamahalaan at militar sa Pag-asa Island sa kabila ng pananakot ng mga Intsik na makakaapekto ito sa relasyon ng dalawang bansa.

Nakakatawa dahil bakit kokontrahin ng mga Instik ang pagpunta ng mga Pinoy officials sa naturang lugar na sakop naman natin. Nagmukha tuloy engot ang mga singkit.

Dahil sa Spratly issue napatampok ng dalawang kongresista na hindi lamang dapat sa salita ipinapakita ang pagmamahal sa bansa kungdi sa aksyon.

Astig kong itinuturing si Walden at Kaka

Mabuhay kayo.

Sana ay dumami pa ang mga katulad ninyo na handang ipaglaban ang ating kasarinlan hindi lamang sa salita kungdi sa tamang pagkilos.

Narito pala ang statement nina Walden at Kaka makaraan nilang bumisita sa Spratlys.

Empower Civilian Settlements, Improve Defense in Kalayaan Islands

Collective Statement of the Peace and Sovereignty Mission to Kalayaan Islands

Yesterday we made history by being the first civilian mission to the Kalayaan Island Group; we were flown in by civilian planes, and the mission was led by civilian authority. This is a step forward in our claim for sovereignty – for the longest time, our expression of sovereignty was mainly military occupation; even the small civilian community in Pag-asa Island is largely dependent on our military presence.

It is precisely for this reason that the Chinese vehemently opposed the mission – a civilian authority leading a delegation of civilians to the island means the eventual development of a critical mass of civilians on the island. Today, the nine Philippine-occupied islands in the Spratlys are indisputably Philippine territory, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of thew Seas.  But as the Filipino civilian community in Pag-asa Island becomes more developed; the fact that it is Philippine territory becomes increasingly incontestable.

The Peace and Sovereignty Mission carries the simple request Pag-asa has to the national government: development assistance.  The residents of Pag-asa asked for development of health and education services, improvement of basic infrastructure especially for water and electricity, improvement of recreational facilities, creation of an economic hub for the community and the modernization of military and naval facilities.

Today, Pag-asa residents have restricted access to electricity, and limited water supply. Their runway, one of only two ways by which the island could be reached, needs keeping. Children in Pag-asa do not have day care centers or schools; to study the children would have to go back to Palawan. Medical services are inadequate; that there have been two live births recently despite this is a miracle. Communication is limited- the sole cell-site on the island is activated only a few hours a day to “make the necessary communication,” military personnel described it. Economic activity is sorely lacking as well – subsistence farming and fishing are sources of food, despite the wealth of natural resources the island offers.

We members of the Peace and Sovereignty Mission committed to Pag-asa to forward their concerns in Congress. We had committed to providing them initial capital for the construction of their pier through our Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). In the budget hearings, we will lobby for ample allocation to Pag-asa especially for education, health and infrastructure for basic needs such electricity and water, and the construction of a lighthouse. We will also pursue the modernization of the naval fleet and the military facilities on the island – the defenders of Philippine sovereignty need good equipment and facilities to match their courage and determination.

We will continue to pursue House Resolution 1350. The renaming of the South China Sea into West Philippine Sea would provide political leverage to our claims to the Kalayaan Island Group.

The Peace and Sovereignty mission was successful in bolstering the morale of the troops and the civilian settlement in Kalayaan. Our simple expression of solidarity has shown them that they are not alone in the defense of Philippine territory. We carried the sentiments of Filipino civilians that we salute their courage to be at the front row of territorial disputes and defend Philippine sovereignty. Likewise, the mission was also successful in articulating the call for negotiations to be conducted in a peaceful, multilateral manner. For this, we are very happy that the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense supported the Peace and Sovereignty Mission. With their support, we were successful in bridging the civilian call for sovereignty and the military defense of Philippine territory.

The Peace and Sovereignty Mission witnessed the soil in Pag-Asa Island to be Philippine soil. The water surrounding the island felt every bit like Philippine Waters. And, no doubt about it, the troops and civilians are Filipinos. We urge the national government to go beyond multilateral negotiations to stake our claim to claim to the Kalayaan Island Group. Improving Philippine settlements on Philippine soil is the best way to say the Kalayaan Island Group truly is Philippine territory.


Sgd. Hon. Walden Bello
Akbayan Party

Sgd. Hon. Kaka Bag-ao
Akbayan Party