Funds for critical buildings in Pag-asa assured—House

“The Dutch Ambassador reiterated the proposal on establishing naval defense industry cooperation with the Philippines, underscoring its strategic and economic advantages in the long term,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

The Netherlands’ naval industry is one of the most capable in the world and is known for constructing high-quality patrol ships, corvettes, frigates, and submarines.

“Secretary Teodoro agreed and further proposed to develop broader defense cooperation, taking into consideration the importance of other areas, such as cyber and artificial intelligence, as well as the Netherlands’ potential to become a partner in these areas,” Andolong said.

He also said Teodoro proposed “greenfield opportunities” in various industries, particularly in defense and security, with the Netherlands and the European Union, to advance overall bilateral cooperation.

The House of Representatives will allocate funds to build critical infrastructure in Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, including storm shelters for fishermen, a solar power plant, and ice and cold storage facilities, among others.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez made the announcement Thursday after he and a small contingent of lawmakers visited Pag-asa Island in Palawan province to see for themselves the challenges facing the residents and the armed personnel manning the country’s outpost in the West Philippine Sea.

This developed as China insisted on its maritime sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and condemned a resupply mission by four Philippine ships to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Wednesday.

“Philippine supply ships and two coast guard ships entered the waters … in China’s Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said in a post on its website, using China’s name for the Spratly Islands.

Yu said the Chinese Coast Guard issued stern warnings, reiteratingthat it firmly opposed the transport of materials to BRP Sierra Madre that “sits on the beach” illegally.

Both Ayungin Shoal and Pag-asa Island are part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.

For Romualdez, a development plan is