Coast guard: More funding for marine scientists to boost WPS position

Metro Manila, Philippines — The coast guard has joined calls for higher funding for marine scientists as the country ramps up its territorial stake in the West Philippine Sea.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said Congress must provide support for the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) and its research fleet.

“[T]hey lack funding to support their logistical requirements para magkaroon din tayo ng research vessel na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng ating marine scientists,” he said.

“So this time around I think it’s about time that we support our marine scientists from the University of the Philippines, mabigyan sila ng tamang budget para magkaroon sila ng sarili nilang National [Academic] Research Fleet, at magkaroon tayo ng mas malalim na pag-aaral na ginagabayan ng scientific research para sa posisyon natin sa West Philippine Sea,” he added.

[Translation: They lack funding to support their logistical requirements so our country would also have a research vessel that would address the needs of our marine scientists. So, this time around, I think it’s about time that we support our marine scientists from the University of the Philippines, give them the correct budget for them to have their own National Research Fleet, and we would have deeper study guided by scientific research on our position in the West Philippine Sea.]

Asked about expectations for the coming budget season, Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Tolentino said Congress will “try to make some incremental increases to respond to current needs of the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

According to UPMSI’s website, the National Academic Research Fleet is a “group of vessels dedicated to marine science research essential to research and academic activities, and capacity building of National Government Agencies (NGAs), Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), private sector, and the Filipino people.”

It said the fleet has five assets “which are co-managed and/or co-hosted by UP MSI and partner universities.”

China still rejects the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines has been protesting China’s “aggressive” and “dangerous” actions against Filipino forces in the West Philippine Sea, which is within the country’s economic exclusive zone.

According to the Center for Strategic & International Studies, the South China Sea has “one of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world.”

“Geopolitical competition and poor resource management have put this vibrant ecosystem under threat,” it said in a report. 

In September last year, the Philippine military reported damaged corals in Rozul Reef in the West Philippine Sea. It suspected China of conducting harvesting activities in the area.