West Philippine Sea advocates meet with Philippine defense chief

Posted to the Marianas Variety (May 9, 2019): West Philippine Sea advocates meet with Philippine defense chief

Representatives of the National Youth Movement for West Philippine Sea headed by Jose Antonio Custodio, NYMWPS adviser, military historian and defense analyst, met with Philippine Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on April 29, 2019 to discuss current issues affecting the group’s advocacies. The meeting was remotely coordinated by Saipan-based Dr. Celia Lamkin, NYMWPS founder and global chairperson who is based in the Marianas.

The National Youth Movement for West Philippine Sea is a global non-violent movement composed of volunteer-members across the globe whose social media presence has been actively campaigning for the preservation of Philippine territory after the U.N. tribunal on July 12, 2016 rejected Beijing’s historic claims to most of the South China Sea. The group has likewise expanded its advocacy to include social responsibility — lending support to the fishermen in the areas whose livelihood and ways of life have been severely affected by the blatant territorial bullying of the Chinese aggressors.

In September 2017, the group had an audience with Lorenzana, during which he proudly shared the development plan for Pag-asa. Pag-asa is the second largest naturally occurring island in the Spratlys archipelago, and is the sole village of Kalayaan town in Palawan. It is also claimed by China but is under Philippine control and is home to some 340 people.

The April 29, 2019 meeting paved the way for the group to share its projects and plans to Lorenzana. Highlighted in the report were the February 2019 gift-giving initiatives of NYMWPS with the marines stationed in the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal and the residents of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan Island Group. The events were held at the Western Command and the Kalayaan Municipality Extension grounds in Puerto Princesa city.

Corollary to this, and to promote sustainability of its initiatives in uplifting the morale and well-being of the 200 residents of Pag-asa and the military stationed in Kalayaan Islands, the group presented upcoming plans to have some projects in cooperation with the Department of National Defense, Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, the Kalayaan local government unit headed by Mayor Roberto del Mundo, Pag-asa Health Center staff and NYMWPS Pag-asa Island Coordinator.

In his email to Dr. Lamkin, Lorenzana conveyed his appreciation for the opportunity to have met the NYMWPS delegation and was pleased with the report of Jose Antonio Custodio regarding the achievements and activities of the NYMWPS since their last meeting in 2017 up to present, and expressed the willingness to consider and to collaborate with the group in planned projects.

http://www.mvariety.com/regional-news/112586-west-philippine-sea-advocates-meet-with-philippine-defense-chief-05092019