A party-list lawmaker on Tuesday vowed to push for a P462 million budget to develop the Kalayaan Island, covering the construction of road networks, sewerage and waste treatment facilities, evacuation centers, and other infrastructure in the municipality.
This as the so-called “Kalayaan 16” – local officials who were declared persona non grata by the Chinese embassy — were honored as West Philippine Sea “heroes” on Tuesday by the Akbayan party and the Atin Ito coalition.
Among those recognized were Mayor Beltzasar Alindogan, Vice Mayor Maurice Phillip Alexis Albayda, Councilor Francis Polizon, and 13 other officials.
“As for what is happening right now, it could not be denied that we, people with unknown names, simple people with simple lives, are easy targets for those bullies,” Albayda said in a press conference.
The Kalayaan officials earlier passed a resolution seeking to remove from the Senate record Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s remarks that the Philippines should just give up the KIG to “make it easier” amid maritime tensions with China.
For his part, Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña said he intends to propose the funding for the municipality during the 2027 budget crafting.
“Our support for the Kalayaan island municipality residents must go beyond rhetoric. As they say, put your money where your mouth is. Our countrymen, the residents, the heroes of the Kalayaan Island Group have many needs,” he said.
“We can’t leave them hanging. We need to give them much-needed resources. We need to strengthen and support our heroes… because freedom must be taken care of,” Cendaña added.
He said the proposed amount will also cover dormitories for medical personnel and teachers, local government operations center, housing units, multipurpose building, and a mini bus for local government operations, among others.
Kalayaan is the country’s only municipality located in the West Philippine Sea.
Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, for his part, appealed to Congress to prioritize the enactment of key West Philippine Sea measures, including the WPS Education Bill and the declaration of a National West Philippine Sea Victory Day.
Meanwhile, Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday said he would push through with the debate with retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, to be hosted by the Philippine Bar Association, for as long as there are no limitations on the topics.
“I’m willing anytime… (but) it should not be restricted, especially when the supposed limitations are based on statements allegedly coming from me that I did not actually make,” Marcoleta said.
The senator outlined three propositions for debate: whether recognition of the West Philippine Sea obligates Philippine agencies to deposit exclusive economic zone limits with the United Nations, whether certain KIG features and their territorial seas should be corrected through updated coordinates, and whether chart submissions and notifications are required under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“How can you limit a vast subject matter such as the West Philippine Sea? It’s not just broad, it’s complex and its consequences are far-reaching. So, no limit should be set,” Marcoleta added.
Carpio already accepted the Philippine Bar Association’s offer to host the public debate.
The PBA earlier offered a neutral and secure venue and professional moderators with expertise on the subject matter as well as constitutional and public law.
“We recognize that the matters concerning the West Philippine Sea carry significant implications. A structured debate—grounded in facts, law, and civility—would meaningfully contribute to national discourse,” the group said.
