MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fishermen from round 50 fishing boats within the neighborhood of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal within the West Philippine Sea obtained help packages throughout an everyday humanitarian mission performed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, on Friday mentioned “greater than 40 to 50 Filipino fishing boats” obtained help together with gasoline subsidies, recent water, ice, and meals packs throughout the “Kadiwa” exercise since Wednesday.
The fishers within the neighborhood of the shoal got here from the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan, and Mindoro.
Tarriela mentioned PCG vessels, particularly the 83-meter BRP Gabriela Silang, in addition to two 44-meter vessels BRP Cape San Agustin and BRP Cabra, have been deployed for the operation.
Cape San Agustin has escorted fish provider MV Mamalakaya, maritime monitor SeaLight reported on Thursday.
Mamalakaya is the government-owned fish provider deployed for the “Kadiwa” program, which goals to buy the fisherfolk’s catch and supply gasoline subsidies.
Alternatively, the PCG has monitored the presence of at the least three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels with bow numbers 3105, 3106, and 2307 throughout the mission.
“Regardless of the continued presence of those CCG vessels, Filipino fishermen have steadfastly continued to fish in these waters, exercising their rightful entry to fish,” he mentioned.
However in contrast to in earlier operations, the PCG didn’t report any aggressive actions from the CCG.
Intense encounters between Manila and Beijing have taken place in the Panatag Shoal, punctuated by the Aug. 11, 2025, incident which led to the collision of a CCG vessel and a Individuals’s Liberation Military-Navy warship whereas in pursuit of a PCG ship.
Beijing claims sovereignty over virtually all the South China Sea, however the 2016 arbitral award successfully dominated in favor of Manila’s sovereign rights within the West Philippine Sea, whereas additionally declaring Panatag Shoal as a conventional fishing floor for the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.
Regardless of this, Beijing nonetheless continues to implement what consultants name an “exclusion zone enforcement” round the shoal, stopping fisherfolk entry there since its efficient takeover in 2012 after a tense standoff with Manila. /gsg
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