Duterte plans to declare Panatag Shoal a marine sanctuary

President Rodrigo Duterte is planning to issue an executive order declaring Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc) as a marine sanctuary.

A report by Joseph Morong on Unang Balita on Monday said Duterte discussed this with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a bilateral meeting in Lima, Peru where the two leaders are attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Malacañang said Xi responded positively.

Once the executive order is issued, Filipino and Chinese fishermen will no longer be allowed to fish inside Panatag Shoal.

"It is our position... not to have fishing activities inside the Triangle," National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said.

Panatag Shoal is shaped like a triangle. The area is as big as Quezon City. The waters here are teeming with fish, the report said.

Esperon said fishermen will however be allowed to fish outside Panatag Shoal.

Win-win solution

Declaring the shoal as a marine sanctuary is a win-win solution, Esperon added.

Xi reportedly welcomed the idea and said they will help.

"Sabi niya (Xi), 'We will mobilize government forces to promote our agreements, step up guidance to create favorable environment,'" Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

Andanar added that the government is pursuing this action rather than asserting its victory over China in the case it filed before the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Esperon said if the Chinese have their coast guard patroling the shoal, the Philippines has also sent its coast guard there.

And whereas before, Chinese Coast Guard drove away Filipino fishermen, they have refrained from doing so after Duterte's state visit to China. —KG/ALG, GMA News