Cash-strapped Kalayaan Freedom students stranded in Palawan

MANILA, Philippines - Over 30 students who volunteered for a maritime domain awareness campaign are stranded in Puerto Princesa after running out of funds for their return home.

The Department of National Defense and the Philippine Coast Guard had disapproved the Kalayaan Atin Ito Freedom Voyage, a trip to the Kalayaan Island group situated in an area in the West Philippine Sea being claimed by China. The authorities cited security and safety issues due to weather conditions.

The freedom voyage was supposed to take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 30 last year.

Despite the military’s disapproval, the freedom voyage still pushed through on Dec. 24.

The students from various schools, led by former Marine Nicanor Faeldon, took a small boat from Balabac town to Pag-asa Island, the seat of Kalayaan town.

After spending Christmas on the high seas, the students reached Pag-asa on Dec. 26. They stayed in the island town in peaceful protest against what they called China’s “creeping invasion” of the Philippine maritime domain.

The students spent New Year’s Day with the islanders and returned to mainland Palawan on Jan. 3, only to be stranded in Puerto Princesa after the groups that promised them financial assistance backed out.

The students have been staying at a temporary camp set up in Barangay Buenavista. They rely on the help of residents for food, water and medicine.