Long-delayed repair of Pag-asa airstrip to start ‘anytime now’

Under orders from President Benigno Aquino III, the long-delayed repair of the airstrip in one of the Philippine-occupied islands in the Spratlys would start “anytime now,” the top military commander in the area said on Wednesday.

The airstrip on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) has fallen in disuse several years ago.

Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command chief, said that some construction equipment materials had been unloaded and more would be arriving.

“The materials will be brought in but the equipment of the Philippine Air Force engineers are already there. (The repair will start) anytime now,” Sabban said.

“That is a priority. The order of the Commander in Chief is (it should start) as soon as possible,” he continued.

Allocation

The AFP has allocated P31 million to repair the dilapidated runway on Pag-asa, the biggest island in the part of the Spratlys claimed by the Philippines and dubbed the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

Pag-asa has an airstrip and basic facilities for the group of soldiers and civilians living there. The airstrip, however, has long been neglected.

The Philippines has recently accused China of at least six incursions in Philippine-claimed territory.

Manila filed a diplomatic protest in March after two Chinese Navy gunboats harassed a government oil exploration vessel in the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) which it claims to be within Philippine territory and not part of the contested area.

Manila again filed a diplomatic protest in May after Chinese ships laid out steel posts, a buoy and building materials in Iroquois Reef (Amy Douglas Bank) a few days after the official visit of Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie.

Code of conduct

The Philippines has invoked the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between the Association of South East Asian Nations and China. This calls for restraint and avoiding activities that might escalate tension, such as the construction of military facilities and holding war games.

Sabban said the repair of the airstrip was not a violation of the declaration. “The airstrip has been there since 1975. There are no new structures. There’s no problem with the repair. That structure has been there for a long time,” he said.