Zambales waters off-limits to civilians anew for PH-US military drill
FILE PHOTO: The Patriot, a mobile surface-to-air missile system, is launched during a live missile demonstration in the “Balikatan” military drills held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, a Zambales town facing the West Philippine Sea. On June 15, 2024, civilians in five coastal towns of Zambales were again barred from venturing out to sea to make way for another annual military exercise between the Philippines and American troops. The Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) is ongoing and the restriction was issued to avoid any accidents or mishaps during the military drill. INQUIRER/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — Fisherfolk and residents in five coastal towns here were again barred from venturing out to sea on Saturday, June 15, to make way for another annual military exercise between the Philippines and American troops.
In separate announcements, some municipal governments said that any coastal activities such as fishing are temporarily prohibited from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the towns of San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, and Botolan.
Tourists and residents are also told to avoid swimming within that period.
The Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) is ongoing and the restriction was issued to avoid any accidents or mishaps during the drill.
READ: In Zambales, ‘no-sail’ rule during ‘Balikatan’ hit
MASA, which started on June 3 and will end on June 21, is an annual bilateral military exercise and the biggest military drills so far between the Philippines and the United States (US).
A total of 3,175 personnel from the Philippine Marine Corps, Marine Reservists, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard and Naval Air Wing, US Marine Corps, US Army, US Special Forces, and US Air Force will participate in the three-week exercise.
In 2023, the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise between the Philippines and the US temporarily displaced some 5,000 fishers and their families in the province after they were barred from sailing while the war games were ongoing.
