Resupply mission in WPS to continue – BFAR

The resupply mission of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will continue despite a report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of the China Coast Guard (CCG) seizing and dumping food supplies meant for Filipino soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

-  BELLA CARIASO

"There is no reason for the government to stop providing support in the West Philippine Sea as it is within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ). No foreign countries can stop us in our legitimate undertakings in the waters of the Philippines,” BFAR spokesman Nasser Briguera said.

“We extend our monitoring in international waters covered by our exclusive economic zone. As far as BFAR is concerned, for this year, we have allotted about more than P3 billion for the regulatory and law enforcement programs of the bureau,” he said.

“In fact this year, we target to add additional BFAR vessels in the West Philippine Sea. The function of BFAR is not only in terms of monitoring, control and surveillance, but also in terms of capaciting our municipal fisherfolk to actually fish in the West Philippine Sea. We are actually giving them bigger boats so that they can operate even in further distance,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero is hoping the Philippines would not retaliate against China’s offensive to prevent war from breaking out in the region and the Philippines from becoming a battleground.