Don’t go, Kalayaan mayor warns voyagers

From Malaya Business Insight (Nov 24): Don’t go, Kalayaan mayor warns voyagers

MAYOR Eugenio Bito-onon of Kalayaan town in Palawan yesterday cautioned the group Kalayaan Atin Ito on their planned 30-day voyage to the Philippine-held islands in the West Philippine Sea, saying they will be facing very rough December seas.

“It’s very risky, especially December when weather is bad,” Bito-onon said.

Kalayaan Atin Ito’s journey begins November 30 (Bonifacio Day) and ends on December 30 (Rizal Day).

Bito-onon said it is very difficult to sustain 10,000 people on such a voyage.

He said he has been travelling to and from the Philippine-held territories over the past 10 years and “the risk and the cost of going there is not that easy.”

Kalayaan town is composed of the nine Philippine-held territories, including Pag-asa Island which serves as the seat of government of the town.

The town was created in June 1978 by President Ferdinand Marcos by virtue of Presidential Decree 1596. It is under the political jurisdiction of Palawan but under the custody and administration of the Armed Forces

The group, led by former Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, said 10,000 people, mostly youths, will participate in the voyage which aims to assert the country’s claims to the disputed areas, on board 81 boats representing the country’s provinces.

“I’ve been on a boat. There were 500 of us. We have to fall in line just to go to the toilet, to the bathroom. The sea is rough during this time, it’s difficult,” said Bito-onon, adding that the Philippine-occupied islands have no ports.

Bito-onon said he is not actually against the voyage but the organizers should consider the risks that go with the endeavor.

“I am not opposed to the idealism of the youth…We do not deny them (of the chance to go there) but should anything untoward happens, who would help them…They should consider all the issues because it’s far and they’ll go there at their own risk,” he said.

Bito-onon said the best advice on whether to proceed with the voyage should come from Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs because “they all know about the diplomatic row.” He also noted that Kalayaan town is not totally controlled by him.

On whether the group should postpone the voyage to a period when the sea is not rough, the mayor said: “I really don’t know. The organizers do not talk to me…The thing is they should consider the risk and the cost.”

Earlier, AFP Western Command chief Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez said he is opposed to the voyage, describing it as “ill-advised,” because of the “traitorous” sea.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/don%E2%80%99t-go-kalayaan-mayor-warns-voyagers