More infra projects eyed in KIG
President Marcos has ordered Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to personally visit the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to check ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects and determine how these would benefit residents.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing on Wednesday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) proposed the construction of a new port and airport in the KIG.
Congress had earmarked P1.65 billion for the development of the Pag-asa Island airport and P300 million for a shelter port in the 2025 national budget. An additional P1.08 billion was also allotted for the second phase of the Lawak Island shelter port.
Asked for an update on the projects, Castro said the DPWH would have to conduct a review “to ensure the implementation of what the President wants for the KIG.”
‘Kalayaan 16’
Sixteen officials of Kalayaan municipality, which is located on Pag-asa Island, the largest feature of the KIG, recently incurred the ire of Beijing after they declared as persona non grata Chinese Ambassador Jin Quan.
This was after he criticized government officials who had defended the country’s sovereignty in the WPS. The Chinese embassy responded by barring the 16 Kalayaan officials from entering China and its territories, Macau and Hong Kong.
On Tuesday, Akbayan and the Atin Ito Coalition recognized the “Kalayaan 16” and conferred on them the West Philippine Sea Heroes Award.
Akbayan party list Rep. Percival Cendaña also proposed a P462-million funding in the 2027 budget for the construction of road networks, sewerage and waste treatment facilities, evacuation centers, and other infrastructure in the KIG.
The amount will also cover dormitories for medical personnel and teachers, a local government operations center, housing units, a multipurpose building, and a mini bus for local government operations.
“Our support for the residents of the Kalayaan Island Group must go beyond rhetoric,” Cendaña said. “Our fellow Filipinos, the residents and heroes of KIG have many needs.”
“We cannot leave them hanging. We need to provide them with much-needed resources. We must strengthen and support our heroes … because freedom must be protected and nurtured,” he added.
Located west of Palawan, the KIG is a group of over 50 features and their surrounding waters that belong to the Philippines, located in what is internationally known as the Spratly Islands. INQ
The Kalayaan municipality was created in the KIG under Palawan province by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1596 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1978.
