PCG joins UP, DENR research expedition to Kalayaan

In a statement, the PCG yesterday said its Marine Science Group (MSG) joined the University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) in the research expedition that started on Feb. 22 and will end on Feb. 28.

In the expedition, the PCG-MSG, UP-MSI and the DENR-BMB are assessing the diversity and community structure of seaweeds, mollusks and other benthic invertebrates.

They are also documenting the biodiversity, abundance and distribution of seagrasses on the reef flat of Pag-asa Island.

The research group is also conducting mollusk surveys to better understand habitat interactions, as well as identify and map priority reef restoration sites.

According to Commodore May Marfil, deputy chief of coast guard staff for marine environmental protection, the initiative is a prelude to a series of activities to rehabilitate the coral reefs and other marine ecosystems in the WPS.

“This is also in line with the PCG’s mandate on marine environment protection and in recognition of the immeasurable importance of the marine environment and resources to the Filipino people,” the PCG added.

According to an earlier report, there are scientific studies that established that the marine ecosystem in the KIG is a critical biodiversity area, crucial for the sustainable supply of fish and coral larvae in the country and the region.

Gibo to ASEAN: Unite vs threats

Without particularly mentioning China, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. called on member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to unite amid emerging security challenges confronting the region.

Speaking at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Retreat in Penang, Malaysia yesterday, he said “the actions of a few states are reshaping global relations” which is why it is necessary “for ASEAN to remain cohesive and proactive in upholding regional stability.”

“ASEAN has ensured the longest period of peace in any region since World War II. However, this peace is now under threat—not due to our incapacity to preserve it, but because of the absence of unanimity on key issues,” Teodoro stated.

He noted that ongoing threats to Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the WPS are not merely a domestic or regional concern but a “global issue” that impacts the stability of the international system.

Teodoro also highlighted the Philippines’ commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law while urging ASEAN members to act decisively in preserving peace and stability, emphasizing that ASEAN’s strength lies in its ability to cooperate, consult, and take collective action when necessary.

Reaffirming the Philippines’ long-standing commitment to regional peace, Teodoro emphasized the importance of articulating the realities of the current geopolitical environment to remain adaptive to rapid change and uncertainties.

Quoting how President Marcos has underscored the importance of ASEAN upholding the rule of law against contemporary challenges, he said “Silence in the face of violations diminishes ASEAN” thus the call for proactive measures in defending international law and norms.

Teodoro likewise urged ASEAN member nations to strengthen operational cooperation by expanding joint patrols, exercises and intelligence-sharing to build trust among regional defense forces.

He warned against external at[1]tempts to sow division within South[1]east Asia, saying that ASEAN must reject external influences that seek to fragment the region.

Meanwhile, reacting to China’s latest statements again questioning the military’s plans to acquire Typhon mid-range missile system capability from the United States, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reiterated that foreign countries do not have a say on how the Philippines intends to defend itself and its territory.

“We continue to uphold our stand on that no particular entity or foreign nation can dictate how we will be fortifying our defenses,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told reporters yesterday.

French ship visit

In another development, the deployment of the French Carrier Strike Group to the Philippines was not directed at anybody but reinforcing an enhanced maritime and defense cooperation between the two countries, its commander said.

In Subic Bay, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard said the arrival of the strike group is also aimed at developing military cooperation and interactions between the armed forces of the two countries.

Mallard would not disclose whether they encountered Chinese radio challenges during their joint drills with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

“I will not reveal any operational context, whatever happens, because it is, of course, protected and it is shared with our partners of the Philippines Navy,” Mallard said in a press conference Sunday on board the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. “And there’s nothing that is declared against anybody. As the ambassador said, we are mostly here because there is a free and open area to sail in.”

— Evelyn Macairan, Michael Punongbayan, Pia Lee-Brago