Atin Ito to hold 4th West Philippine Sea civilian mission in April

Atin Ito Coalition on Thursday announced its fourth civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) scheduled in April, this time covering Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group. 

At a press conference, Atin Ito co-convenors Edicio Dela Torre and Akbayan president Rafaela David read a joint statement in connection with the civilian mission.

According to the coalition, the mission will travel to the town center of the Municipality of Kalayaan, where nearly 500 Filipinos reside.

“Ang paglalayag na ito ay tugon sa tatlong pangunahing krisis na kinakaharap natin: ang krisis ng pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo na malalim na tumatama sa ating mga mangingisda, ang krisis ng Chinese spying, at ang krisis ng pagtataksil ng mga Tsinador sa ating mahal na WPS,” David said.

(This voyage is a response to the three major crises we face: the crisis of rising oil prices that is deeply affecting our fishermen, the crisis of Chinese spying, and the crisis of the betrayal of our beloved WPS.)

The coalition plans to bring fuel and food assistance to small fishing communities struggling with skyrocketing oil prices. 

“Through this mission, we call on the government, the business sector and patriotic citizens to stand with our fisherfolk by helping provide fuel subsidies and other support that will allow them to continue fishing in their own waters despite the crisis,” David said.

Atin Ito stressed that ordinary Filipinos traveling to the islands should be normalized.

“The presence of ordinary Filipino citizens - fishers, youth, civil society leaders, and volunteers - is one of the most powerful ways to respond to China’s militarization of the area. Civilian missions are also an act of citizenship transparency, asserting that our seas are not zones of secrecy or intimidation but spaces where Filipinos can freely live, travel, and work,” Dela Torre said.

“In the face of growing espionage activities, the best response is more citizens exercising their rights, not fewer,” he added.

The coalition stressed that no external intimidation or disinformation campaign can erase the Philippines’ claim to these waters and islands.

In preparation for the mission, a town hall meeting will be held on March 23 in Puerto Princesa, gathering the WPS bloc in the House and the Senate, local government officials, church leaders, fisherfolk representatives, youth groups, as well as civil society organizations.

The morning dialogue will tackle firsthand concerns of fishermen, while the afternoon assembly will involve around 1,000 youth and students. —VAL, GMA Integrated News