'Atin Ito' to hold jetski ride off Pag-asa Island for civilian mission

Volunteers of the Atin Ito Coalition are set to hold a jetski flag ride in waters off Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as part of its fourth civilian mission in Philippine territorial waters.

On Monday, the coalition announced the operational details of the mission, including the so-called “Patriotic Jetski Flag Ride,” to be led by Akbayan Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula and Atin Ito youth volunteers.

Participants will ride jetskis and wave Philippine flags as a peaceful assertion of presence in what they described as sovereign waters.

The mission will run from April 30 to May 5, 2026.

“Tuloy na tuloy ang ating mission papunta sa Pag-asa Island. We want to make sure na sustained ang ating pag-civilianize sa WPS… para ipakita na dapat i-regularize natin na ordinaryong Pilipino ang nakaka-access sa Pag-asa Island sa WPS,” Atin Ito Civilian Mission Commander Rafaela David told reporters.

(The mission to Pag-asa Island will proceed. We want to ensure our effort to civilianize the WPS is sustained, to show that access by ordinary Filipinos to Pag-asa Island should be regularized.)

Atin Ito last month announced its fourth civilian mission to the WPS, this time focused on the Pag-asa Islands.

The Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) is a cluster of islands and reefs in the West Philippine Sea that forms part of Palawan province’s municipality of Kalayaan and lies roughly 280–300 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa City, mainland Palawan.

The KIG is generally described as consisting of about eight major occupied or recognized islands, along with dozens of reefs, shoals, and cays within its jurisdiction in the WPS.

The largest island in the KIG is Pag-asa Island, which is also the municipal seat of Kalayaan, Palawan, and the most developed and populated among the features in the group.

Atin Ito coalition said it will also stage the first-ever island concert in the area and deliver fuel and food assistance to small fishing communities affected by rising fuel prices.

“Para sa atin, ang safety of our volunteers is paramount. Sisiguraduhin natin na lahat ng elements ng ating mission ay may karampatang contingency measures para masigurado na ligtas ang ating paglalayag,” David said.

(For us, the safety of our volunteers is paramount. We will ensure that all elements of the mission have appropriate contingency measures to guarantee safe passage.)

The MV Kapitan Felix Oca, a 5,000-GT vessel, will again serve as the main ship of the mission, carrying over 200 participants, including Atin Ito volunteers, local and foreign media, fisherfolk leaders, artists, and crew members.

The ML Chowee, used during the coalition’s first mission in December 2023, will also join as a support and supply vessel.—MCG, GMA News