Panamanian Embassy piques CSB’s SHS students’ interests

THE Embassy of the Republic of Panama in the Philippines led by Chargé d’Affaires Xiomara Perez and Consular Affairs Head Fabio Hidalgo recently welcomed senior-high school (SHS) students from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde as part of the latter’s immersion on global exchange forums and understanding of bilateral ties.

The courtesy call allowed the 23 participants to understand the historical heritage and economic situations of the Central American country, as well as its political presence and bilateral relationship with the Philippines.

Student Aaron Joshua Go shared how active dialogues, followed by peaceful engagements, are the values of conflict-free discussions among nations. “It made me recognize the importance of representation in each country since they are the avenue for protection and legal actions that will help their citizens whenever they are in the world.”

“This goes to show that diplomats will always spread their love for their

Since 1995, when the Philippines accidentally discovered that China has been building something in the Mischief Reef, the Philippine government made only three major strides to support its claim in the WPS: filed thousands of diplomatic protests, ran aground BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, and secured a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or Unclos-sanctioned arbitration ruling.

What protection are our Filipino fishermen in the Western part of the country, who are feeding half of the nation’s seafood diet, getting? Our troops stationed, it seems from my end, are just simply “sitting ducks.”

But what is the alternative? Can the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and PCG fight back? Can we really look back and tell our children in the future that we didn’t fight back and just relied on the Americans and other international allies to stand by us…in spirit?

Don’t take it personally. CCG, the Chinese Navy and their militia fishermen also harass and intimidate Indonesians, Malaysians, and Vietnamese in the disputed waters. But you won’t hear them complain.

Why? Because they fight back, and you won’t hear anything because they don’t broadcast it in the media.

Why can they fight back? Because their countries have submarines and fighter jets that can help support small maritime incidents.

I think it’s time for us not just to take a stand, but to act. We need a credible defense force: one that can support our sovereignty every time it is trampled upon. We already knew the solution in 1995; yet, our leaders dilly-dallied on what to do.

The war in Ukraine shows us that even if other countries support you in spirit, they will not be there to give unequivocal, no-holds-barred support. They have their own domestic interests to support, and may or may not align with our national interest.

Ayungin Shoal

ONE reporter fielded the last question during the press conference: “Why did the Philippines run aground the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal?” I don’t know if AFP Col. Medel Aguilar was just being sarcastic about it, but his reply was tart and quite equally irritating for young reporters: “I think I need to do some research on that, Sir.”

Covering the WPS is no easy feat. One has to read a lot of histories, technical explanations of exclusive economic zones, territory, sovereignty, and take in answers such as “I don’t know…” or “That’s confidential…” from sources.

When the BRP Sierra Madre hit the sands of Ayungin in 1999, China was already fortifying Mischief Reef. At that time, the latter’s excuse for building structures there was to provide shelter for fishermen. The Philippines had to do something, because the reef is just 200 nautical miles away from Palawan, and a few nautical miles from other Philippine-held islands such as Pagasa and Lawak islands.

Later, China turned the reef into artificial islands, and soon weaponized such. Blame them? No. They just outperformed Vietnam in building sprees. We only have ourselves to blame for not stopping the big ships carrying slabs and other construction materials.

Since I had been away from field coverage for a while, I asked former supreme justice Antonio Carpio and Prof. Jay Batongbacal about the renewed fuss about Ayungin Shoal.

Both maritime-law experts said the land feature is very strategically located. It is just 20 nautical miles away from Mischief Reef, and it became an outpost for Chinese activities. It is technically a large atoll with a lagoon, and if the Philippines did not occupy it, China would have converted it too as an artificial base island.

“If China succeeds in squeezing the Philippines out of Ayungin Shoal through this tactic of interfering with resupply missions, it will use the same… with every other Philippine outpost in the Kalayaan Island Group,” Prof. Batongbacal said.

It would be a “test case and proof of concept” for the so-called “cabbage strategy” of China, i.e. surrounding every rock formation with layer upon layer of forces such as its coast guard, maritime militia and navy. If this succeeds, then all vessels and aircrafts— including commercial ships bringing food, oil and all sorts of trade—will be under its mercy.

“If ‘Ayungin’ falls, the rest of Kalayaan Islands will follow. Without the Kalayaan Islands, we will not be able to protect our access to the [WPS, China will take over it,] and limit us to maybe just a few miles of nearshore waters close to our islands. China will achieve its goal of acquiring this side of the ‘Nine-Dashed Lines’ and the Philippines will lose its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” Batongbacal concluded.

For Carpio, he sees China’s intention in harassing Philippine supply vessels going to Ayungin Shoal as part of its strategy to stop the country from doing oil and gas exploration in the Reed Bank.

“Malampaya is running out of gas, and we need to start exploration of the Reed Bank,” Carpio explained.

“Ayungin Shoal is the gateway to Reed Bank.” respective countries, wherever they are, and inspire others to do the same—all for the prolongment of peace,” fellow attendee Gabriel Angelo Aung Hein said.

Expect more harassment in the WPS, Carpio said, as he cited a new law in China allowing the CCG to use all kinds of force. But the Philippines must protect Ayungin Shoal, and prevent the other from taking over neighboring Sabina Shoal.

Because in less than five years, when Malampaya runs out of gas and there will be massive brownouts, the only viable alternative would be to import liquefied natural gas, and expect a 50-percent increase in electric bills.

The tour inspired learners such as Divine Cascia Jawid and Raisa Serene Romero to pursue a career in diplomacy and international relations. Chiara Alessandra Estrella, who also aspires to be an international affairs student, imparted how she personally treasured the lessons shared by Perez, as chargé d’affaires, on being a woman in a male-dominated field.

Prior to onboarding the Work Immersion Program, the students’ “Embassy Hopping” culminating activity formed part of the pupils’ learning exposure under the Benilde Senior-High School-General Academic Strand aimed at widening their perspectives on finding solutions to political, economic and social issues.

THE German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) tackled updates on the Philippine government streamlining the filing of applications and business permits, with particular focus on the compliance report of the new Electronic Business One-Stop Shops, or eBOSS, for local government units through a digital portal, which was introduced by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

GPCCI board director Tore Henriksen, who is the president and managing director of Doehle Shipmanagement Phils. Corp., led a panel discussion that addressed expectations of the private sector from the government on improving local business operations such as predictability, regulation and international norms.

Moreover, Henriksen presented the public sector’s efforts, particularly ARTA, on the ease of doing business and streamlining government processes, as he pointed out the importance of aligning international and local policies. He shared that “as long as there’s awareness in ARTA’s processes and practices, predictability remains existent.”

The forum featured Director General Ernesto V. Perez of ARTA—the government agency responsible for overseeing the implementation of Republic Act 11032 and its regulations, monitors compliance with the national anti-red tape policy, while fostering a business-friendly environment in the country.