China harassment continues in WPS

by Bernadette e tamayo ManilaTimes.net

asa Island.

Senate concurrence entry level IO-1 position holding Salary Grade 11.

The measure, she said, seeks to upgrade the salaries of immigration officers and other BI employees, as well as provide additional benefits and incentives.

Ferrer said an Immigration Trust Fund shall be created for the modernization and professionalization of the bureau, including new equipment and facilities.

"With this bill, we will be giving the bureau and its personnel the resources to perform their functions to the best of their abilities," she said.

The bill seeks to harmonize existing immigration laws, such as the Commonwealth Act No. 613 or the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, in order to make them more responsive and in touch with international developments in the 21st century. The chamber approved House Bill 8203 through voice voting. (PNA)

THE China Coast Guard (CCG) continues to harass Filipino troops in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) which has sometimes resulted in the delayed delivery of provisions to soldiers stationed at the Ayungin Shoal in the Kalayaan Island Groups (KIG).

Brig. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief of staff, confirmed the "continuous harassment" by the CCG when he faced the Commission on Appointments (CA) for the deliberation of his ad interim appointment on Tuesday.

The CA later on approved his appointment and of 49 other senior AFP officers.

"There's always continuous harassment of our troops at [the] Kalayaan Island Groups and sometimes the provision of our troops there is always delayed, depending on the situation," he said.

"When there is lots of news about the conflict at the WPS that's the time also that they usually are very aggressive and not allowing some of our ships to go there," Gaerlan said.

He added, "Nevertheless, our ships continue to attempt to go there until such time that they are able to pass through."

"However, sometimes these maneuvers are very dangerous, especially to our Navy men, who are using the ships and it may cause damage or even loss of lives if there will be a lot of miscalculation," Gaerlan said.

The Philippine military in 1999 ran the BRP Sierra Madre aground at the Ayungin Shoal or Mischief Reef, some 196 kilometers from Palawan, in response to China's illegal occupation of the area.

The CCG last February 8 beamed a military-grade laser light on a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship also in Ayungin Shoal which was on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre. The incident caused temporary blindness to the PCG personnel.

The PCG had also reported the presence of a People's Liberation Army Navy, CCG, and 42 suspected Chinese maritime militia vessels within the surrounding waters of the Pag-

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino said the potential defense agreement between the Philippines and Japan may need the concurrence of the Senate.

The senator noted that Manila and Tokyo are reportedly preparing preliminary consultations before starting the formal negotiations for a Reciprocal Access Agreement or (RAA) or a visiting forces deal.

Tolentino said that if the agreement will be in a form of a treaty, then it must be done precisely in accordance with the 1987 Constitution, and "must be ratified" by the Senate.

Once approved, the proposed RAA would allow Filipino and Japanese forces to deploy troops on each other's territory for training and other operations.

Tolentino said the supposed deal will boost defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific zone amid concerns over escalating tensions in the South China Sea region, particularly along the disputed territories located in the WPS.

Tolentino, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, had this year proposed the conduct of a multilateral show of maritime security cooperation with the United States and neighboring countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) amid a series of reported escalations near the WPS.

He said that expanding the conduct of joint patrols — to include other claimant countries in Southeast Asia — will help ensure the freedom of navigation, exercise of fishing rights, and, somehow, pacify existing tensions due to territorial disputes hounding the South China Sea region.

Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito expressed concern over the continued aggression experienced by Filipino soldiers stationed at the Ayungin Shoal. "We are trying to shore up, we cannot fight China, of course, but at least, we can put up the minimum credible defense posturing that we all aspire for," Ejercito said.

Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada on Monday called on fellow senators to support the cause of the brave men and women of Pag-asa Island in the KIG and help uplift their living condition.

Estrada, who personally visited the island on May 18, maintained that it is their moral obligation, as public servants, to ensure that Pag-asa Island residents have access to basic necessities such as education, health care and u PAGE 7

A gutted national heritage

This National Heritage Month, a century-old landmark in the city of Manila was gutted by fire. Only the concrete shell of the Central Post Office was left after the conflagration was finally put out on Monday, May 22 seven hours after the fire started at 11:41 p.m. on Sunday, May 21 in the basement reportedly housing the General Services Office.

Apart from letters and parcels, the fire destroyed the Philippine Postal Corp.’s entire library of antique and commemorative stamps – a national heritage – along with artworks used for designing stamps. PhilSys

Editorial

National ID cards that were being readied for delivery were also destroyed.

With such precious but highly combustible items, it is disheartening to find out that the building lacked fire alarms and water sprinkler systems, as noted by Bureau of Fire Protection personnel who responded to the blaze. Firefighting capability was also reportedly hampered by the lack of water. While about 80 fire trucks responded, it took more than seven hours to put out the inferno. BFP personnel said the enclosed space quickly dried up water. Fire trucks had to get additional water from the nearby Pasig River and even from the water fountain system in Liwasang Bonifacio across the building.

The five-story structure with soaring ceilings was designed by architects Juan Arellano and Tomas Mapua. Built in the neoclassical style in 1926, it was destroyed during the Battle of Manila during World War II, but was rebuilt in 1946. On Nov. 24, 2018, the National Museum declared the building as an Important Cultural Property. This designation obviously failed to inspire efforts to boost fire safety measures in a heritage building that houses so many precious items made of paper and other highly combustible materials. The landmark managed to rise from the ashes of World War II, but was then allowed to gradually fall into disrepair. Other countries pour resources into preserving such structures or enclaves. Countries with high awareness of the economic importance of travel and tourism almost always have “old towns” where significant investments are poured into the preservation, restoration and proper maintenance of heritage structures.

In the Philippines, the focus is on razing such structures to give way to mixed-use property development where the concrete jungle is the favored model. Perhaps this tragedy that has befallen the postal office building for the second time will serve as an eye-opener on the importance of preserving the nation’s heritage. (Philstar.com)