‘We still have a lot to do’: Brawner thanks House for support for Pag-asa Island
MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has thanked the House leadership for their commitment to helping Pag-asa Island, saying that the area really needs many projects to sustain the fisherfolk’s livelihood and military operations.
During the press briefing on Thursday night, Brawner — who accompanied Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and other House officials to Pag-asa Island — said that among the projects needed by the area are ports, buildings, desalination machines, and power sources.
Brawner said these projects can be done by having higher defense funding, which the House leadership has already committed.
“We still have a lot to do; for example, we need ports, causeways, buildings, desalination machines, power sources, and so on. That’s why the request of the Armed Forces and the DND [Department of National Defense] is to increase funding so that we could improve our facilities in the West Philippine Sea,” he explained.
“Of course, that makes me feel very happy. In fact, I’m happy that the Speaker invited me to come with him to Pag-asa. This is my third time to visit the island Pag-asa Island. And the last time I was there, the runway, the surface of the runway was still dirt. But this time, when we landed, we landed on concrete. It was very nice. It was extended. And I also saw that there was electricity already in the area. The last time I was there, there was no electricity,” he added.
According to Brawner, Pag-asa represents a huge part of the country’s sovereignty, as it is the island farthest from the country.
“And the symbolism of Pagasa Island is that it represents our sovereignty and our sovereign rights because the island is actually the farthest island from our baseline in the western portion of our country. In fact, it is outside our exclusive economic zone,” he said. “But that area represents a territory that is occupied by Filipinos.”
“In fact, the mayor of Kalayaan was there when we went there. He was there to welcome us. And the whole community was present, they were all there, including the children of our soldiers, we have about 130 soldiers, policemen, airmen, marines in the island. So that is why it is very important that we in the AFP are requesting for more funds actually from Congress,” he added.
After visiting Pag-asa Islands, Romualdez and other key lawmakers held a briefing to explain why they are firm in their belief that Pag-asa Island needs more funding.
According to Romualdez, committee on appropriations chair and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, and senior vice chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, other line items in the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) — aside from confidential funds — may also be realigned to defense-oriented agencies.
READ: House seeking budget for Pag-asa Island: P4.8-B secret funds not enough
Romualdez said that they will support a development plan for Pag-asa Island as fisherfolk in the area would need critical infrastructure like storm shelters and solar power plants.
He also stressed that the island is of strategic importance, as it is a key outpost in the West Philippine Sea
READ: Romualdez vows development plan for Pag-asa island
