Maritime security council 'redundant, insignificant'
By J.Lo
"Government agencies belonging to newly-created National Maritime Council are already constitutionally mandated to uphold and protect our national territory and natural resources," group of small-scale fisherfolk Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) national chairperson Fernando Hicap said government's countermeasures against China's aggression in West Philippine Sea, including reorganization of maritime council, is "redundant and insignificant" to their needs.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered government to strengthen country's maritime security following recent escalation of aggressive actions by China Coast Guard (CCG) against Philippine vessels.
Executive Order 57, signed last week, renamed and reorganized National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) into National Maritime Council (NMC). Council will act as central body in charge of formulating policies and strategies to ensure coordinated and effective framework for nation's maritime security.
Council will be chaired by the Executive Secretary. Its members include representatives from Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Solicitor General and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, among others.
PAMALAKAYA said creation of maritime council is an "added bureaucracy."
"Why need to consolidate these agencies into council with sole purpose of maritime security, and despite existing task force with very same functions?" he asked.
National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) will be attached to NMC, and will be responsible for synchronizing and operationalizing capabilities to different government agencies to achieve "unified action" in WPS.
"Walang kabuluhan para sa mga mangingisdang patuloy na bumabagsak ang kita at nawalan ng kabuhayan ang hakbangin ng administrasyong Marcos Jr., hangga't hindi tuwirang napapaalis ang mga barkong pangisda at pandigma ng China at iba pang dayong bansa sa ating karagatan," Hicap said.
PAMALAKAYA said any efforts to reclaim control of Philippines' territorial waters should be "peaceful and diplomatic" in accordance with 2016 arbitral award.
Marcos' order followed series of maritime confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels near Ayungin Shoal. During latest incident, CCG blocked and used water cannons to disrupt another resupply mission to troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre.
The president earlier said Philippines will implement countermeasures against "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" by CCG and Chinese maritime militia.
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