Repairs of Rancudo Airfield, construction of Pagasa port to take a backseat

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 12): Repairs of Rancudo Airfield, construction of Pagasa port to take a backseat

With the thawing of the ties between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China, repairs on Rancudo Airfield, Pagasa Island and construction of a new port might take a backseat.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año when asked whether the country has lifted its moratorium on improving Filipino-held positions in the West Philippine Sea.

"(The moratorium was lifted) but because of the warming relationship with China, we better not make any aggressive action in the West Philippine Sea," he added.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has earlier allocated the sum of PHP800 million for the repair of Rancudo Airfield those forward edge is slowly eroded by the sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

With this, the situation there is now on "status quo".

As this develops, he also said that he plans to visit Pagasa Island along with Año but no firm date of the visit is set yet.

Pagasa, with an area of 37.2 hectares, is the largest of the seven islands and three reefs being controlled by the Philippines in Spratly Island Group.

Other Philippine possessions in the Spratlys include Likas Island which measures 18.6 hectares, Parolo Island, 12.7 hectares, Lawak Island 7.93 hectares, Kota Island, 6. 45 hectares, Patag Island, 0.57, Panata Island, 0.44, Rizal, Balagtas and Ayungin Reefs.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=954692