Lorenzana: PHL to reclaim land on Pag-asa to lengthen runway

The Philippines will soon conduct reclamation activities on Pag-asa Island in the Spratlys to increase the length of its aircraft runway, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday.

Lorenzana made the remark in the wake of a report by Washington-based think-tank Asia Maritime Transparency Institute that China has called in a naval "militia" to the West Philippine Sea amid the country's construction efforts.

"As of now, only the beaching ramp is being undertaken. Next is the concreting of the runway," Lorenzana said.

The Defense chief is referring to the airstrip improvement project that was part of the developments being undertaken in Pagasa Island which started last year.

Lorenzana previously projected the completion of the beaching ramp by December 2018.

"The third phase is the lengthening of the runway which will entail the reclamation of about 300 meters," Lorenzana said.

"Reclamation means there is land before and you are reclaiming the land back. Since there is no land but water, we call it filling up the space with stones, gravel and soil," he said. —NB, GMA News