Navy: Enough goods in Pag-asa while delivery ship under repair

MANILA, Philippines - There is enough supply to sustain residents of Pag-asa Island in the Spratlys chain while the mechanical problems of the ship tasked to deliver goods to the Philippine-occupied area are being fixed, the Navy said on Sunday.

Navy spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said they always take into account possible problems in their resupply efforts.

“Their (Pag-asa residents) provisions are still sufficient and this (resupply mission) is programmed is such a way that in case we experience such problems, we still have window (to fix it),” Arevalo said in an interview.

Last week, BRP Laguna, the aging ship delivering goods to Pag-asa, sailed back to mainland Palawan after experiencing a mechanical problem. 

The supply vessel was reportedly halfway to the destination of its resupply mission when it suffered mechanical glitches and returned to the mainland for repairs.

Arevalo said BRP Laguna did not sustain severe damage and that the resupply mission may be conducted anytime.

“I’ve been told that it (resupply mission) will be conducted immediately once the ship is fixed,” the Navy official said.  

“In case the ship is not okay, we have other assets to perform the task,” he added.