Atin Ito prepares for 4th civilian mission to Pag-asa Island

NOT FOR CARGO The current airstrip on Pag-asa Island can’t serve cargo planes. Photo takenin August 2020. — INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Civil society coalition Atin Ito on Thursday announced plans to mount another mission to Pag-asa Island next month, aiming to deliver aid to residents and highlight concerns over maritime security and the challenges facing Filipino fisherfolk.

“We from Atin Ito today announce our fourth civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) this April, carrying the theme ‘Balik Pag-asa’,” said Rafaela David, a coconvener of the group, during a press briefing.

David said the trip aims to address three pressing issues: rising fuel prices affecting fishing communities, concerns over alleged Chinese espionage activities, and continued tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“Our mission will deliver much-needed supplies to West Philippine Sea fisherfolk and communities, particularly fuel and food assistance,” she said, noting that rising oil prices have severely affected small fishing communities that depend on the sea for their livelihood.

READ: Atin Ito volunteers gear up for 3rd civilian mission in WPS

Filipino zones

Atin Ito previously organized three civilian supply missions to the WPS, mobilizing volunteers and donations to support Filipino communities near or in contested waters.

Edicio dela Torre, another coconvener of the coalition, said the initiative also aims to encourage civilian presence in the area. “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,” he said.

Civilian missions demonstrate that the country’s seas are “not zones of secrecy or intimidation but spaces where Filipinos can freely live, travel, and work,” he added.