Lawmaker: Where’s new seaport on Pag-asa Island?

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Wednesday sought an update on the status of a P450-million seaport project on Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the Spratlys amid reports of the growing presence of the Chinese maritime militia around it.

“We hope the (Department of Transportation) is still pushing through with the project,” Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said.

The House senior deputy minority leader reminded the transportation officials that Congress gave the department P450 million for the Barangay Pag-asa Port Project in 2017.

The Department of National Defense is building a beaching ramp on Pag-asa to speed up the delivery of construction equipment and materials to the island. —DJ Yap