Romualdez visits Pag-asa, eyes P3 billion for airport, port

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is aiming to allocate P3 billion for “development projects” in Pag-asa in the town of Kalayaan in Palawan.

Speaker Martin Romualdez made this commitment following a visit to the remote town in the West Philippine Sea accompanied by some congressmen and officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Well initially, just for the airport and the reclamation here, we’re looking at a budget of at least P3 billion for the airport reclamation extension, which coincides with the naval port and fishing sanctuary,” he said.

Romualdez also gave assurance that Pag-asa Island will have its share of confidential funds that the House is planning to realign from some agencies whose mandate is not directly related to protecting national security.

“A portion of it, that initially has been decided to be allocated, will be put in. Beyond that, we are thinking of having higher funds for this island … Definitely, support is on the way,” he noted. “There is a possibility of putting up a naval wharf right here and repair this port as well… It’s really better to have projects for development and improvement of the Pag-asa Island facilities.”

He said the island could even be developed as a tourist destination like Maldives. “So we shall invite everyone to come and visit. But we shall develop the facilities here, the airport, the seaport and the other facilities within the Kalayaan Island group,” he added.

For his part, AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has expressed his gratitude to the House “for recognizing the need to strengthen the nation’s defense resources after their visit to Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.”

“The name of the game in the (WPS) is effective presence. It means whoever is there has control of that specific area,” he said.

Brawner added there is an “ongoing need for development” not only on Pag-asa Island but also on the other Filipino-occupied features in the WPS.

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