DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday said the military recently put up surveillance radars to beef up its capability to monitor cases of incursion and harassment in the West Philippine Sea which covers Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea.
Chinese military and civilian vessels have intruded into the West Philippine Sea and even harassed Philippine military and civilian vessels for several years.
“Addressing recurrent incursions and harassment by military and civilian Chinese vessels, the Philippines has taken diplomatic actions against China for activities against our national sovereignty,” Lorenzana said in a forum.
“This is on top of our enhanced surveillance, enforcement, security, and development capabilities in the area,” he added.
Lorenzana noted the installation of radars but did not say when and where those were installed.
“The AFP improved its identification, detection and interdiction efforts through our newly-installed air defense surveillance radars, the conduct of wider air and maritime patrols, and setting up additional detachments in strategic locations,” said Lorenzana.
Defense department spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the most recent installation of an air defense surveillance radar was last year in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro. Another radar, in Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte, was upgraded this year, he said.
Andolong said a third air surveillance defense radar, to be installed at Mt. Salakot in Palawan, is expected to be delivered within the year.
“From the outset, these installations have been planned as key components of our modernization program and are intended to improve our country’s domain awareness.
Radars are intended to provide us with coverage over our entire territory,” said Andolong.
Lorenzana said the Duterte administration is putting premium on the defense of national sovereignty and protecting territorial integrity.
He said the government’s bilateral and multi-lateral engagements with countries, including the other claimants in the South China Sea — China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan — has “significantly lowered the tension and has greatly helped in managing the issues in the West Philippine Sea.”
“We have actively pushed for the effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. We are likewise pursuing the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by all the claimant states. Se continue to engage them in confidence-building measures,” he said.
Lorenzana also reported that the military has continued to improve the living conditions of military facilities in nine features in the West Philippine Sea, including Pag-asa island which is occupied by the Philippines.
“We are upgrading facilities in the nine islands that comprise the municipality of Kalayaan, particularly the island of Pag-asa. For the first time since the 1970s, Pag-asa island has received major infrastructure upgrades, namely: a ship beaching ramp, and a sheltered port for our fishermen,” he added.
“It is now easier to proceed with other development projects such as concreting the runway and its apron, and construction of other structures for the residents and our troops,” Lorenzana also said
Lorenzana also reported that DND and the AFP continue to boost their capability through the AFP modernization program. He cited the recent delivery of BRP Jose Rizal, the first ever missile-capable warship of the Navy.
“Combat support aircraft are also due for delivery this year to the Philippine Air Force,” he said.
However, Lorenzana said the modernization program was somehow affected by the COVID-19 crisis, noting that P9.4 billion in modernization funds had been re-allocated to the government’s fight against COVID-19.
Lorenzana’s remarks sought to clarify Andolong’s earlier statement that the re-allocation involved P17.4 billion in modernization funds.
Lorenzana said the re-allocation of the P9.4 billion in modernization funds would push back the implementation of some modernization projects.
Also re-allocated to the COVID-19 funds were some P9.7 billion in capital outlay and P125 million in maintenance and other operating expenses, the defense chief also said.
