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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Solon eyes P5B fund for dozen Navy forward operating bases

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Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, strategic intelligence committee chairperson, has filed a measure to earmark an initial P5 billion for the installation of a dozen naval outposts to secure the country’s maritime domain against all forms of foreign encroachment.

“We are duty-bound to protect and preserve the vast natural gas deposits as well as the lush marine life in our strategic waters for the enjoyment of future generations of Filipinos,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier fired off another diplomatic protest against the persistent deployment and “illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels” around Pag-asa Island and demanded their withdrawal.

Under Pimentel’s House Bill 9420 or the Philippine Navy Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) Act, four of the facilities shall be positioned in Luzon’s western seaboard and three in the eastern coast.

The FOBs envisioned to guard the West Philippine Sea shall be established in Lubang Island in Mindoro Occidental; Subic Bay in Zambales, and in Palawan’s Busuanga and Balabac.

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Those intended to keep watch over the Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise) shall be put up in Polillo Island in Quezon, and in towns of Divilacan and Casiguran in Isabela and Aurora, respectively.

Five other FOBs shall also be built in Mavulis Island in Batanes; Allen, Northern Samar; Surigao City; Sarangani, Davao Occidental; and in Mapun Island in Tawi-Tawi.

“We expect the outposts to serve as the future staging and resupply sites for the Navy’s new generation of warships and battle craft,” Pimentel said.

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