By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on September 18 expressed outrage over the destruction of the marine ecosystem in the West Philippine Sea, saying the continued intrusion of Chinese vessels into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) threatens global food security.
Zubiri was referring to the reported damage to coral reefs in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, where dozens of Chinese maritime militia vessels have been seen roaming illegally.
“This is a wanton destruction of our future food security areas. I am really angry with what they are doing. We are appealing to the Chinese embassy here in the Philippines to tell their militia vessels to put a stop to this wanton destruction,” Zubiri said.
“This is not destruction only on the Philippine side but the whole world. The fish that breed there are not only being harvested by Filipino fishermen but also by Malaysian, Vietnamese, even Chinese fishermen,” he pointed out.
To safeguard the country’s marine resources in the West Philippine Sea, Zubiri said the Senate is working closely with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources in setting up marine ranger stations in key coastal areas nationwide.
The Senate leader said he has already spoken with Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, who chairs the Senate committee on Finance, to earmark PHP600 million for the initiative.
He also vowed to fight for bigger allotments for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy in the national budget for 2024 to help them in purchasing additional partial boats and other equipment.
“This budget is a critical budget. This is the time that we have to put our money where our mouth is. This is the time that we need to increase the budget for ships, patrol crafts and marine research centers,” Zubiri said.
Under the proposed PHP5.768-trillion National Expenditure Plan for 2024, the PCG has been allocated with PHP24.014 billion, an increase of nearly 10 percent from its allotment of PHP21.92 billion this year.
On the other hand, PHP40.97 billion has been set aside for the Navy, up from its current budget of PHP34.98 billion.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also backed Zubiri on the destruction at the Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.
He regarded as “a matter of grave concern” reports of deliberate man-made alteration to the natural topography of its underwater terrain, allegedly carried out by the Chinese maritime militia in these areas.
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, also noted that the said harvesting is a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“If we will file our claim, damages, it should be in a tribunal recognized by UNCLOS, United Nations,” he said.
Tolentino is crafting the Philippine Maritime Zone Law that he envisions to be the country’s legal basis for its territorial dispute.
“China is mocking us. We have no maritime zone law, so we are doing this after several decades,” he said.