Scared but staying put: Pag-asa Island residents play crucial role in PH-China row

KALAYAAN, Palawan — "Military defense."

This is the first thing that comes to mind when one hears the phrase "West Philippine Sea." 

While it is true that the Philippines needs to beef up its military presence to protect its territories, especially those that are being claimed by powerful neighboring countries such as China, it is unknown to many the important role civilians play in safeguarding these areas from potential foreign attacks, or worse, invasion. 

"No right-thinking nation will attack civilians," Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. during his visit to Pag-asa Island on May 16.

Teodoro — along with Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva and JV Ejercito — visited Pag-asa Island for the groundbreaking ceremony of a new barracks inside the Emilio Liwanag Naval Station and a Super Rural Health Unit. Both facilities were funded under the 2024 national budget through Congress' initiative. 

Defense Sec. Gibo Teodoro, Senate President Migz Zubiri, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva & Sen. JV Ejercito are currently being briefed by the AFP Western Command here in Pag-Asa Island @gmanews pic.twitter.com/KkzSofh0Pc

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) May 16, 2024

"Kailangan po natin ng civilians dito (we need civilians here) because this is for them. This is not purely for military purposes," Teodoro said.

"Kailangan po natin i-habitate ito para maging sustainable (We need to habitate this place to make it sustainable)," Teodoro said, referring to the island which is being claimed by China despite its proximity to Palawan.

Pag-asa Island, tagged as Palawan's "last frontier," is located some 446 kilometers from Puerto Princesa City, the province's mainland. Branded as "paradise" by the local government of Kalayaan, Palawan, the island is home to around 350 civilians who survive daily through government subsidy. 

Blessings

Maria Gloria Dacumos, 38 years old, is one of the long-time residents of Pag-asa island. She's been living there for 13 years, having come from Taytay, Palawan. In an interview with GMA News Online, she said she chose to live on the island because they could get most of their necessities there for free in the form of government subsidy and donations.

"Medyo nakakaluwag po kasi dito. Medyo maganda dito 'yung pamumuhay namin kasi pag sa baba (mainland) po, medyo may kagipitan po sa financial. Dito po, libre ang paaralan. Libre po ang pagpapa-aral. Ang mga gamit, may mga donation po na darating sa amin. Kaya malaking blessing po talaga sa amin," Dacumos said. 

(We are better here financially than in mainland because here education is free. We receive donations. These are big blessings to us.)

It is on the island that Dacumos is raising her family with her husband. Together, they are blessed with six children.

Although the government has not been remiss in its duty to help the residents with their everyday needs, the island is still underdeveloped and lacking the basic facilities, such as birthing centers. 

Dacumos said she had to travel to the mainland months before her due date so she could safely give birth to her children. 

From Pag-asa Island, it would take two and a half hours to go to Puerto Princesa via a twin-engine islander aircraft. Meanwhile, it would take 27 to 56 hours to reach the mainland via seacraft. 

Commuting from the island to the mainland may appear physically taxing for outsiders, but for Pag-asa residents, this is the least of their concerns. For them, going to the mainland means huge expenses.

"Mahirap. 'Yung ipon mo dito na iipunin mo ng isang taon, sa isang iglap mauubos doon. Kasi pag sa mainland po lahat bili, lahat bayad. Kaya kami po sa baba, ang ginagawa namin, kapag hindi importante na magtagal kami, umaakyat po kami agad dito (Pag-asa Island) para po makapag-ipon na naman uli," Dacumos said. 

(It's hard. The money you saved for one year could be gone in a flash in the mainland because there you have to buy everything. So unless necessary we don't stay in the mainland for long.)

Since government presence is "more felt" in Pag-asa, Dacumos said many have decided to leave the mainland for the island because of poverty. 

"Dati, walong babae lang po kami dito. [Ngayon] madami na. Kasi marami nang nag-akyatan na iba... Talagang medyo maganda talaga dito kasi sa mainland kasi bibilhin mo pa yung mga [pangangailangan]. Dito, subsidy namin, libre," she said.

(There used to be only eight females here, but now our number has grown. It is really better here because in the mainland you have to buy what you need. Here it is subsidized.)

Chinese vessels

Having been a resident of Pag-asa Island for 13 years, Dacumos has noticed how the presence of Chinese vessels has increased over the years. When she decided to live in Pag-asa in 2011, she said it was relatively quiet. But Chinese vessels started to swarm the island's vicinity when more "visitors" arrived to give residents aid. 

"Parang na-alert sila (it was like they were alerted)," she said. 

During Teodoro and the senators' visit on May 16, around 22 Chinese militia vessels and one China Coast Guard vessel were spotted some three to four nautical miles off Pag-asa Island. 

A China Coast Guard vessel and several Chinese fishing vessels are seen right now near Pag-Asa Island. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/75g444mP9m

— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) May 16, 2024

Dacumos said in 2023, her husband personally experienced being "hosed" by a Chinese vessel while fishing.

"May time na binobomba sila ng tubig, pinapalayo sila kapag nakakalapit na sila sa boundary. Naranasan din 'yun ng mister ko. Naranasan po niya 'yun na... parang itaboy lang... Hose lang. Pinapalayo lang sila," she shared. 

(They was one time water was used to drive my husband and his companions away when they went near the boundary.)

"Natakot daw sila... Umalis na lang sila... Hindi naman daw sila hinabol."

(They got scared, so they left. They were not chased, however.)

Despite the risky situation on the island, Dacumos said they will still choose to live here. 

"Nangangamba din kami kahit papaano, pero 'pag sinasabi na bumaba kami, babalik na naman kami sa number one. May pangamba kami, may agam-agam dito pero mas gusto namin dito. Talagang malaking kaluwagan sa mga katulad namin at nandito po ang trabaho namin," Dacumos said. 

(We are worried, but we still prefer it here. We are really better off here especially since our livelihoods are here.) —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News