By Pearl Gumapos
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana pledged the military’s support for the development of Pag-asa Island and the protection of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).
In a virtual meeting with Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez on Monday (July 19), Sobejana acknowledged the need to turn Pag-asa Island into a “logistics hub” to protect the KIG’s biodiversity and the livelihood of its fishing communities.
“We are glad that we are on the same page in the future of the province of Palawan, that we view it as a strategic and critical national security frontier, particularly in the interests of ecological balance and sustainable development,” Sobejana said in a statement released on Wednesday (July 21).
He also lauded the initiatives of Palawan’s provincial government in protecting the nation’s interest through its proposal to declare the KIG a protected area, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.
“We are at a point when we have to stick together as one nation and we are glad that the provincial government of Palawan is already on board,” Sobejana said.
His discussion with Alvarez also included the further development of Pag-asa Island as a haven for Filipino fishermen, as well as a possible tourist destination. – jlo
