MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will unveil on Thursday its new operation hub on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
The hub includes a four-unit structure made of modular containers fully equipped with radar, monitoring equipment and solar panels, among others.
The new facility is also furnished to sustain the living conditions of the personnel deployed on the island who are securing the country’s maritime borders. In an earlier statement, the PCG said it was planning to improve its station in Pag-asa to boost monitoring capabilities in Philippine waters.
The 37.2-hectare Pag-asa Island is the second largest island in the Spratlys and is the administrative center of the town of Kalayaan in Palawan province.
It is about 400 kilometers from Palawan island and is the only Philippine-held feature with a civilian community, while eight other islands and reefs are occupied by Filipino troops.