FOR DEFENSE OF TERRITORY | PH Navy chief highlights need to further develop Ulugan Bay

From InterAksyon (May 25): FOR DEFENSE OF TERRITORY | PH Navy chief highlights need to further develop Ulugan Bay



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Flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Jesus Millan on Sunday stressed the need to further develop the naval facility in Ulugan Bay, which faces the disputed Spratlys in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). 

“Alam ninyo naman ‘yong mandated roles natin [You know our mandated roles], protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity. So we are just highlighting the need to develop further this facility," said the Philippine Navy chief.

He said the bay, 50 kilometers from Palawan's Puerto Princesa, has a "strategic importance."

"It’s a very good area where we can provide basic requirements of our units in the field,” Millan said.

Earlier, the Department of National Defense alloted P.5 billion for the development of Ulugan Bay. Once completed, the naval facility will house the large ships that the Philippines had acquired to defend its territory.

Travel time would be shorter from Ulugan Bay to Pagasa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

KIG is aggressively being claimed by China through its nine-dash line maritime declaration that infringes into the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zones of the Philippines.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/87589/for-defense-of-territory--ph-navy-chief-highlights-need-to-further-develop-ulugan-bay