By Alec Go
More navigational buoys which will also serve as sovereign markers were installed in the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, May 15.
The buoys were installed in Patag Island, Balagtas Reef, Kota Island, Panata Island, and Julian Felipe Reef.
PCG Vice Admiral Coyme said 10 buoys have so far been installed, while six more are set to be placed within the year.
The PCG said these will guide Filipino fisherfolk and ships in the West Philippine Sea
According to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, the buoys carrying the Philippine flag “further signifies the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction” over the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installs additional buoys in the Kalayaan Island Group, May 2023. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installs additional buoys in the Kalayaan Island Group, May 2023.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installs additional buoys in the Kalayaan Island Group, May 2023. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installs additional buoys in the Kalayaan Island Group, May 2023. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installs additional buoys in the Kalayaan Island Group, May 2023. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) installs additional buoys in the Kalayaan Island Group, May 2023. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
“This act of marking the boundaries with our national flag signals our unwavering resolve to safeguard our aquatic borders and resources. Furthermore, it underscores our adherence to global statutes, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he said.
“More significantly, utilizing the PCG ships in dropping buoys in the contested waters reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to promoting peace, stability, cooperation, and the rule of law in the region,” he added.
The buoys will also aid neighboring countries in the promotion of “safe and efficient maritime trade and commerce.”
A total of 317 PCG personnel and five vessels were tapped to deploy the buoys.
Meanwhile, asked if there were encounters with Chinese ships in the area during the installation, Commodore Armand Balilo said a China Coast Guard was spotted in the Julian Felipe Reef that was two nautical miles away from a Philippine ship. – gb
